IUU fishing of Baltic Sea cod

In 2005, the scientific advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) on the state of Baltic Sea fish stocks highlighted that illegal fishing for some species was widespread and unsustainable. These activities severely compromised ICES’ ability to produce sound, science-based advice on several commercial fisheries in the region.

Illegal catches of cod were estimated to be about 40 per cent of the total catch, a level that was both unsustainable and unacceptable. Against this background, the Fisheries Secretariat decided to undertake a 6-month scoping study to review illegal fishing within the Baltic Sea region.

Illegal catches of cod were estimated to be about 40 per cent of the total catch

FishSec conducted informal meetings and interviews with individuals with an active interest in the Baltic cod fisheries. We also reviewed and analysed the EU fisheries policy and regulatory frameworks for control and enforcement applicable to the Baltic Sea. In our final report, we further explored possible opportunities for FishSec and other relevant stakeholders to effectively engage and contribute to curbing IUU fishing.

Last updated: July 10, 2020