News
June 23, 2021
Baltic salmon exemption from landing obligation extended
The Commission has adopted an Delegated Regulation extending the exemption of Baltic salmon from the discard ban (landing obligation) set out in the Common Fisheries Policy. This is a current exemption which only applies to Baltic salmon caught in certain types of traps, which expired on 31 December 2020.
June 18, 2021
Mixed box in ICES advice on Baltic fishing opportunities for 2022
The International Council of the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has released the advice for fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for next year. There is no sign of recovery for depleted populations, such as eastern Baltic cod and western spring spawning herring. Yet again, zero catch is advised for both stocks.. A substantial decline in central Baltic herring has resulted in advice to cut the quota. Some stocks are doing better, including the reassessed herring populations in the Bothnian Sea, herring in the Gulf of Riga, sprat and most flatfish populations.
June 16, 2021
Report: Fisheries closures fail to protect critically endangered eel
The European eel has been in decline for decades and is on the IUCN Red list as Critically Endangered. Despite this, a wide-spread commercial and recreational fishery is allowed to continue in the EU. In 2017, a Joint Declaration to aid its recovery was adopted, including national three-month fishing closures to protect eel migration. Our report shows that many Member States are more likely to protect their fishing sector than the eels.
June 11, 2021
EU council approves EU-UK agreement on fishing opportunities
Today the EU Council approved the agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom on fishing opportunities for 2021 and, for deep-sea stocks, for 2021 and 2022. This agreement is the result of several rounds of consultations between the EU and the UK over the last five months. Amongst other provisions, it sets out … Continued
June 1, 2021
Great visual tool for eel shown at final SUDOANG event
Over the last couple of days, the final event of the SUDOANG project was held online. The project set out to investigate why the European eel is not recovering, despite the agreed EU regulation (1100/2007) having been implemented for more than 10 years, and what improvements are needed to help save the eel. It has … Continued
May 31, 2021
“The Herring stock in the Baltic Proper is being fished too hard”
Researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, suggest that “restrictions on fishing close to the coast could be a good measure”, to protect local spawning stocks of herring. They also warn that “If we want fish stocks to have a healthy size structure, both management and research need to focus on developing and … Continued
May 31, 2021
FishSec receives funding for eel project initiation in the Baltic region
Together with Estonian Fund for Nature, WWF Latvia and Lithuanian Fund for Nature, FishSec has received funding from the Swedish Institute for regional work on European eel recovery (BALTEELRECO). The project will start in September and will focus on analysing the national Eel Management Plans and restocking practises in the four countries.
May 28, 2021
River Vjosa designated Nature Park after Albanian election
The national and international campaigning for protection of the River Vjosa – one of Europe’s last big free-flowing rivers – put environmental issues on the agenda in the lead up to the parliamentary elections in Albania on 25 April. Prime Minister Edi Rama was re-elected for a third term in office. A partial victory has … Continued
May 28, 2021
Press release: EU Must Respond to Baltic Sea Ecosystem and Fisheries Crash With Urgent, Radical Measures
Brussels/Baltic Sea. Responding to today’s publication of annual scientific advice for 2022 EU fishing limits for the Baltic Sea by ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) [1], a group of non-governmental organisations is demanding that the European Commission follow the scientific advice and calls for an immediate transition to ecosystem-based, climate-smart, low-impact … Continued
May 12, 2021
Good progress in GFCM research programme on eel
The new GFCM research programme on European eel has already provided some tangible results since the launch in June last year. After the meeting in late April, an update will be provided at the SAC in late June.