The Commission proposal for Baltic TACs is balanced and largely in line with both the scientific advice and the new objectives of the CFP, but does not contain a proposal for the eastern Baltic cod stock.
Yesterday, the first set of proposals for fishing possibilities for 2015 was released, covering all Baltic Sea stocks.
– We welcome this proposal, but regret that it does not contain any suggestion for the eastern Baltic cod stock, says Niki Sporrong, Director at FISH. The Commission promises a proposal later in September, but it is unlikely that we will have a new assessment from ICES by then.
For western cod, the Commission has abandoned the mortality target in long-term management plan in favour of the MSY objective, and is proposing a TAC of 8 793 tonnes – a reduction of 48 per cent compared to last year.
Increased TACs are proposed for all Baltic herring stocks, bringing all in line with the FMSY objective. For Western spring spawning herring the proposed TAC is 22 220 tonnes – an increase of 12 per cent. For central Baltic herring, the TAC is proposed to increase with 51 per cent to 170 185 tonnes. Gulf of Riga herring has a proposed TAC of 38 780 tonnes – an increase with 26 per cent. Finally, Bothian Sea and Bay herring is proposed to increase with 35 per cent to 186 534 tonnes.
The sprat stock is doing less well and in order to bring it in line with the MSY objective, the Commission is proposing a decrease in the fishing possibilities of 17 per cent, resulting in a TAC of 199 622 tonnes.
Baltic salmon is still suffering from low smolt survival rates, and many of the wild populations are not recovering, so decreases are proposed for both the Main Basin and the Gulf of Finland: 97 911 individual salmon (- 8 per cent) and 10 034 individuals (- 23 per cent) respectively.
For plaice, the only Baltic flatfish under TAC management, a 5 per cent reduction to 3 249 tonnes is proposed.