Positions & Papers
Statement on the recovery of European eel in the Baltic Sea region
September 18, 2025
Statement on the recovery of European eel in the Baltic Sea to all representatives of Baltfish and the Baltfish Presidency. Jointly signed by eight NGOs. The signatories highlight the urgent need for stronger, coordinated measures to protect the critically endangered European eel. Despite long-standing EU regulations, HELCOM commitments, and additional protective measures, progress on recovery has been slow and limited. The most recent ICES advice (2024) calls for zero catch of eels at all life stages across all habitats, yet significant commercial and recreational catches continue in the Baltic region. Restocking practices are not considered true conservation measures under EU law, as they primarily sustain fisheries rather than recovery. The signatories call for:
- A full closure of all eel fisheries until the population has recovered.
- Agreement on a regionally coordinated approach to protect eel migration, based on science and best available knowledge about migration routes.
- That national eel management plans prioritise other measures, such as restoration of habitats and migration routes, that will aid eel recovery.
Call to European Commissioners to Accelerate Fish Population Rebuilding in Connection with the Our Baltic III Conference
September 11, 2025
Joint letter to the European Commissioners for Fisheries and Environment ahead of the Our Baltic III Conference in September 2025. The letter welcomes earlier commitments from previous Our Baltic conferences but highlights that Baltic Sea fish populations remain in critical decline due to overfishing, habitat loss, pollution, and climate change and stresses that urgent political action, ambitious commitments as well as a strong determination in their implementation are needed.
Joint briefing series – Cover Briefing: Key recommendations on setting fishing opportunities
July 18, 2025
Cover briefing of the joint briefing series ‘Recommendations to the EU and the UK on the Setting of Fishing Opportunities’, co-signed by 29 organisations (including environmental NGOs and recreational representatives) calling for recovery-focused, precautionary, and ecosystem-based fishing opportunities. The series, consisting of 11 briefings, was produced by ClientEarth, with FishSec as one of the co-signers. The Briefings covering the following topics related to the setting of fishing opportunities:
- Briefing 1- Cover Briefing: Key recommendations on setting fishing opportunities
- Briefing 2 - Context and legal framework
- Briefing 3 - “Best available” is not good enough - addressing shortcomings in the current scientific advice
- Briefing 4 - Shared fish stocks
- Briefing 5 - Fishing opportunities in an ecosystem context
- Briefing 6 - Mixed fisheries considerations
- Briefing 7 - The fishing effort regime in the Western Mediterranean Sea
- Briefing 8 - Landing obligation challenges
- Briefing 9 - Depleted stocks with zero or very low catch advice
- Briefing 10 - Stocks not managed by a TAC
- Briefing 11 - Deep-sea stocks
Report: Small fish with a big impact
July 17, 2025
Report on Baltic Sea forage fish published by FishSec in 2025. The report was produced as part of our forage fish project Small Fish – Big Impact and is based on a review of scientific literature. It provides an overview of population health and the significance of sprat and herring stocks in the Baltic Sea, as well as our policy recommendations.
Executive Summary: Small fish with a big impact report
July 15, 2025
Executive summary of the report Small Fish – Big Impact: The Importance of Forage Fish in the Baltic Sea, published in July 2025. The report was produced as part of our forage fish project and is based on an extensive review of scientific literature. It provides an overview of population health and the significance of sprat and herring stocks in the Baltic Sea, as well as policy recommendations.
Joint NGO recommendations on Baltic Sea fishing opportunities for 2026
June 17, 2025
The Baltic Sea ecosystem is in severe distress and the major commercial fish stocks have never been in worse condition. In October 2025, EU fisheries ministers will agree on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2026. We have provided joint NGO recommendations on Baltic Sea fishing opportunities for 2026 in the context of environmental regulations, EU fisheries legislation, scientific advice on catch limits, and the sharing of stocks with third countries. Read the NGO briefing here.
Letter to European Commissioner Kadis regarding the renewal of the Specific Grant Agreement with ICES
April 16, 2025
This joint letter, co-signed by 17 organisations working on EU fisheries and environmental policies, was sent to the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, ahead of the 2025 renewal of the Specific Grant Agreement with the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) which guides the provision of scientific advice on fishing opportunities. In the letter, we highlight that the current ICES advice on fishing opportunities does not fully reflect all relevant legal requirements and policy objectives applicable to the EU or the core aims of the European Ocean Pact, including the goal to maintain a “healthy, resilient and productive ocean”.
NGO Recommendations on Baltic Sea Fishing Opportunities for 2025
October 16, 2024
As the 2025 European Council decision on Baltic Sea fishing quotas approaches, FishSec takes this opportunity to share key recommendations from leading NGOs, emphasising the urgent need for a more precautionary approach. Read more here.
Joint NGO recommendations on Baltic Sea fishing opportunities for 2025
June 18, 2024
The Baltic Sea ecosystem is in severe distress. In October 2024, EU fisheries ministers will agree on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2024. We have provided joint NGO recommendations on Baltic Sea fishing opportunities for 2025 in the context of environmental regulations, EU fisheries legislation, scientific advice on catch limits, and the sharing of stocks with third countries. Read the NGO briefing here.
Key long-term measures for the recovery of European eel in the Mediterranean – French
May 28, 2024