Small Fish – Big Impact, the importance of forage fish
Forage fish, such as sprat and herring, are small pelagic fish species that serve as a key food source in the marine ecosystem. Our new project, ‘Small Fish – Big Impact,’ will focus on the importance of forage fish in the Baltic Sea and the need to manage them through an ecosystem based approach.
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Latest briefing on the status of Baltic fish stocks and quota recommendations
Read more on the State of the stocks and find our joint briefing providing analysis and comment on fishing quotas in the Baltic Sea here.
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Take action to save European eel
In less than 50 years, European eel has gone from one of our largest, most widespread fishery resources to a critically endangered species in need of urgent, coordinated action.
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Baltic Sea
Working with the fishing industry and policy makers, we focus on improving fishery sustainability in the Baltic Sea through policy development.
Common Fisheries Policy
The CFP provides the framework for fisheries regulation in the European Union. We work with a number of polices and regulations emerging under the reformed CFP.
European Eel
We work together with partners for further actions to secure eel recovery across its geographical range. Some needed actions are; a revised EU management framework, improved control and regional coordination.
Latest news
October 28, 2025
Fisheries Ministers Risk Breaking EU Law, Jeopardising Baltic Sea Recovery
EU Council decision on 2026 fishing limits fails to implement legally required safeguards, jeopardising the fragile marine ecosystem Luxembourg – 28th of October 2025 – Environmental organisations across Europe (Baltic Salmon Fund, Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland, Coalition Clean Baltic, Danmarks Naturfredningsforening, Deutsche Umwelthilfe, FishSec, Oceana, Östersjölaxälvar i samverkan, Pasaules dabas fonds, Seas At … Continued
October 24, 2025
Small fish, big impact: time for ecosystem based management
Key takeaways from last week’s Brussels event Small pelagic fish play a big role in keeping Europe’s seas healthy. Yet, despite their crucial ecological and economic importance, forage fish such as sprat, herring and sandeel have long remained in the shadows of policy and public attention. Last week on October 16, experts, policymakers, politicians, fisheries … Continued
August 29, 2025
Joint NGO Response to Consultation on Sustainable Fishing Opportunities for 2026
Nearly 30 organisations, including NGOs and recreational fishing representatives from across Europe, have submitted a joint response to the European Commission’s consultation on sustainable fishing opportunities for 2026. The submission sets out recommendations to align catch limits with the Common Fisheries Policy, apply precautionary and ecosystem-based management, and prioritise the recovery of depleted stocks. It … Continued
August 27, 2025
NGOs Welcome Commission’s Precautionary Baltic Sea Fishing Limits for 2026
Council Must Follow Commission’s Lead to Protect Critical Small Pelagic Fish Populations 27 August 2025 – Environmental NGOs (Deutsche Umwelthilfe, FishSec, Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and WWF Baltic Sea Programme) welcome the European Commission’s proposal for 2026 Baltic Sea fishing opportunities, published on the 26th of August. The organisations urge EU Fisheries Ministers to … Continued