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 support these precautionary measures when the Council meets to decide final fishing limits in October.
Alarming Stock Status Demands Precautionary Action
The Commission’s precautionary proposal reflects that the Baltic Sea marine ecosystem is in crisis. Of four herring populations, only the Gulf of Riga stock remains healthy. The population of the Central Baltic herring remains low, Bothnian herring stock has experienced a steep decline, whilst western Baltic herring remains at critically low levels, with scientists recommending zero catch since 2019.
The Baltic sprat population has also declined due to very low recruitment from 2021-2023. Despite minor signs of stock improvement, the predicted strong year class of 2024 is tied to a single survey in one area of the Baltic Sea. The positive recruitment forecast hence, carries significant uncertainties.
“The Commission has shown responsible leadership by proposing to maintain central Baltic herring and sprat catches unchanged whilst significantly reducing Bothnian herring fishing limit by 62% to protect these depleted stocks,” says Cathrine Pedersen Schirmer, Senior Fisheries Policy Officer from FishSec.
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