Fishery: Baltic Sea fishing quotas for 2014

Author: BalticSea2020
Year published: 2013

On 17 October, the Council of Ministers decided on next year's fishing quotas in the Baltic Sea. The press release can be found here. In general the decision departed from the scientific advice to a higher degree than in previous years. The quota for the Eastern Baltic cod was increased by 7%.

ICES concludes that there is scope for a maximum increase of 2% if one is to follow the management plan while the EU Technical Committee (STECF) concludes that quotas should be lowered by 8.5% to comply with the management plan.  The 7% is increase is probably argued to be closer to the revised level of Fmsy that was presented by ICES in spring 2013. This revised Fmsy level has been criticized.

For the Western cod stock quotas were decreased by 15 %, a larger decrease than is required by the management plan and it will lead to achieving the plan's target level (F = 0.6) next year. However, the management plan for the western stock is not in line with the revised CFP. To achieve the objectives of the revised CFP would require at least 44% quota reduction next year.

Our focus areas

fisheryThe stock of predatory fish is crucial for the state of the Baltic Sea. Therefore, the Foundation worked to ensure that the environmental effects of fishing should be a central part of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy. The Foundation also worked on projects to increase the proportion of predatory fish, such as cod, pike and perch. Read more

eutroEutrophication is caused by emissions of nutrients that come from e.g. agriculture, water treatment plants, sewage and transportation. To find measures that could reduce emissions the Foundation worked on projects in agriculture, industrial animal farms and the coastal zone, to research on measures to catch or bind nutrients. Read more

seagull-informationTo create awareness about the threats and opportunities the Baltic Sea is facing, the Foundation initiated a 10-year media and film project with journalist Folke Rydén and photographer Mattias Klum. The Foundation has also supported Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre (Baltic Eye), and Baltic Sea Science Center at Skansen. Read more