The European Commission has tabled its proposal on fishing possibilities for a number of fish stocks in the Baltic Sea for 2009. The proposal follows scientific advice that most stocks in the Baltic Sea should be subject to reduced catches in 2009. This is especially true of the Western cod stock, and of the Western herring stock, both of which require serious attention to prevent their further decline. In the case of the Western cod stock, the Commission is proposing a 15% reduction in fishing opportunities while in the case of Western herring stock, a 63% reduction is being proposed. For the Eastern cod stock however the Commission is proposing a 15% increase in the EU quota as the situation of this stock has improved in recent years. This increase is in line with the multi-annual recovery plan for cod in the Baltic Sea. The present proposal for fishing possibilities shall be discussed at the October Fisheries Council.
Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Joe Borg commented: “When the recovery plan for Baltic cod was put in place last year, scientists were warning that the Eastern cod stock was on the verge of collapse. By applying that plan, we have been able to turn this situation around, and that stock is beginning to grow again. This is a very encouraging sign. I therefore call on ministers to show the same discipline and long-term vision when it comes to the other fish stocks in the Baltic sea, and confirm our commitment to sustainable fisheries not just for one particular stock, but across the board.”
The Commission’s proposals reflect the latest advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), and the opinion of the Commission’s own Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries (STECF), together with input from stakeholders, in particular from the Baltic Regional Advisory Council.
Cod stocks
The Commission is proposing an increase of 15 % in the EU quota for eastern Baltic cod, from 38 765 tonnes to 44 580 tonnes, and a decrease of 15% in the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) on western Baltic cod, from 19 221 tonnes to 16 337 tonnes. The Eastern cod stock has benefited from several strong year classes, as well as improved discipline in the application of the recovery plan. Cautious increases in TAC over the next few years, and continued improvements in control and compliance, should be able to set this fishery on a sounder footing, both biologically and economically. The Western stock on the other hand has now seen four poor year classes in a row. As a result, a straightforward application of the management plan will be needed as a minimum measure to prevent its condition from worsening. Both these proposed TACs are in line with the provisions of the multi-annual plan, which aims to reduce fishing mortality by 10% each year, while reflecting the commitment to a 15% limit on annual TAC variations.
A range of technical measures for fisheries in which cod are taken are also proposed in line with the multi-annual plan. These include a 10% decrease in fishing effort for certain gears to accompany the reductions in TACs.
Herring
Pelagic stocks were affected by low recruitment rates this year, in contrast to previous years, and ICES has therefore advised precautionary reductions in TACs, in particular for the West herring stock, which has declined further following a 2008 TAC which was set well above scientific advice. This stock is linked to the management of the North Sea herring stock, with which it intermingles, and which is also suffering from poor recruitment. It is therefore important to adopt a common approach to the management of these two stocks.
The Commission is therefore proposing a reduction of 63% in the TAC for Western Baltic herring, from 44 550 tonnes, to 16 400 tonnes. For the central herring stock, the proposal is for a 6% reduction, from 152 630 tonnes to 143 609 tonnes, after taking into account the exchange that takes place between this stock and the herring in the Gulf of Riga. In the case of sprat, Commission is proposing a reduction of 15%, in line with the RAC’s proposal, from 454 492 tonnes to 386 318 tonnes
Salmon
ICES is still concerned about the state of salmon in the Gulf of Finland and the survival rate of smolts, in both the main basin and the Gulf of Bothnia, has deteriorated. The Commission is therefore proposing a 15% reduction in both salmon TACs and further actions will be proposed as part of the salmon management plan on which preparatory work is currently underway
