Positions & Papers
Baltfish briefing on Baltic TACs for 2018
August 28, 2017
This briefing provides recommendations to the Baltfish High Level Group on fishing opportunities in the Baltic for 2017. The Fisheries Council will conclude negotiations on the TACs on 9-10 October in Luxembourg.
Commission Consultation on Fishing Opportunities for 2018
July 14, 2017
This letter with recommendations regarding the Communication from the Commission concerning a consultation on Fishing Opportunities for 2018, (COM(2017) 368 final) is aimed at the Fisheries Ministers to consider at the upcoming Council meeting. The European Commission sets out principles for the fixing of fishing opportunities for 2018. It shows a commitment to implement the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), however, time is running out to fully implement the objective of fishing below Fmsy in order to bring stock biomass above Bmsy for all stocks by 2020.
FishSec EBFM Recommendations
June 27, 2017
FishSec has completed a set of recommendations for the implementation of ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) in the Baltic Sea region. The recommendations are based on the EBFM seminar in June 2016 that was organised by Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre, The Fisheries Secretariat (FishSec) and the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in Stockholm.
Summary of ICES advice on Baltic stocks for 2018
June 1, 2017
On 31 May 2017, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Advisory Committee published their advice regarding the exploitation of the Baltic Sea fish stocks for 2018. Here we provide a summary and comment on the assessments and advice.
A table with the summary of the ICES advice can be found here.
Implementation of the landing obligation in the Baltic Sea
May 1, 2017
In response to the proposal made by the German Presidency of Baltfish on revisions to the landing obligation in the Baltic Sea, which will be put in place at the start of 2018. The Fisheries Secretariat and Coalition Clean Baltic have prepared this briefing in response to the questions and proposals outlined in the paper.
Joint NGO letter to the European Parliament against harmful subsidies
March 20, 2017
In the letter 101 environmental organisations wrote to Members of the European Parliament calling on them to maintain the EU ban on subsidies for the construction of fishing vessels. This ban has been in place since 2004 and we ask parliamentarians to maintain this position. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on the ocean and seas (SDG 14) calls explicitly for the elimination of subsidies that contribute to overfishing by 2020. Attempts to reintroduce subsidies for the construction of new vessels undermines the objectives of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy to end overfishing and send the wrong political signal from the EU to leaders around the world.
Joint NGO letter to DG Mare Commissioner requesting closure of western Baltic flatfish and cod bycatch fishery
February 22, 2017
In this letter the undersigned NGOs requested a closure of the western Baltic flatfish and cod bycatch fishery. This was opened during the spawning season closure for cod, which is in February and March. The stock is below the biomass reference point and has been overfished for many years. In our view, this additional fishing pressure during the closed period does not comply with the Baltic multiannual plan, Common Fisheries Policy, or the Control Regulation.
On 7 March the flatfish fishery was closed by the European Commission, writing "the legislation is clear and does not permit and fishery during the closure period that is likely to catch cod."
Proposal to Baltic Sea Advisory Council for Fair and Balanced external representation
February 9, 2017
The Baltic Sea Advisory Council has a significant imbalance in which organisations represent the Council in external fora, a FishSec review shows. The Other Interest Group (OIGs) holds 40% of the seats and yet attends only 17% of the meetings on an annual basis. By contrast the fishing industry attends 58% of meetings and the Secretariat 25%. FIshSec has proposed measures to achieve a fair and balanced representation.
Proposal to Baltic Sea Advisory Council for quota distribution in line with Article 17
January 4, 2017
In light of the significant cuts to the TAC for western Baltic cod in 2017, FishSec proposed a motion for adoption at the Baltic Sea Advisory Council that the limited quota should be allocated to the most vulnerable fishers, in terms of jobs and income, and to those who have the lowest environmental impact.
Joint NGO letter to DG Mare Director concerning Baltic quotas in 2017
November 28, 2016
In this letter the undersigned NGOs outlined their concerns regarding the science underpinning the quotas set for stocks, in particular western Baltic cod and Gulf of Riga herring, and their compliance with the Baltic multiannual plan. We welcomed the Commission's statements that this information would be made available and have requested that this is done so publically, so as to address the transparency concerns that have become apparent through the negotiations.