The Danish Fishermen’s Association has welcomed the good news for Danish Baltic cod and herring fishermen that Fisheries Minister Mogens Jensen is opening a compensation scheme for fishermen affected by quota cuts, closed periods and the adverse impacts of grey seals on cod in the eastern Baltic.
Danish Fishermen’s Association chairman Svend-Erik Andersen is satisfied that the Minister of Fisheries has created an opportunity to give the Baltic Sea fishermen partial compensation.
‘Development in the Baltic in recent years have unfortunately been tough on Danish commercial fishermen. It is satisfying that the Minister has understood the seriousness of the situation for cod and herring fishermen in the Baltic. The scheme helps fishermen who have struggled to make ends meet in recent years. Now we must ensure that as many fishermen as possible can take full advantage of the scheme,’ he said.
The 2020 cod quotas in the western and eastern Baltic have been reduced by 60% and 92% respectively compared to fishing opportunities in 2019. In addition, a closed period has been reintroduced where fishing is not allowed in the western Baltic.
The quota for herring in the western Baltic has also been sharply reduced in 2020, and is down by 65% compared to 2019.
Many Baltic vessels do not have opportunities to fish in other waters to fish. They are therefore forced to stay in the Baltic Sea and are struggling to make the economy come together. The possibility of support grants may be enough to help fishermen to stay in the profession, instead of selling up and going ashore.
‘It means so much for the smaller ports in the Baltic that fishermen still land their fish there. So it is important that the compensation scheme is put together so that it helps as many people as possible remain in the profession. A lot of cod have been caught here in January in the western Baltic, so we hope that the quota situation will look better next year,’ said says Kim Kær Hansen, chair of the Baltic Sea Committee at the Danish Fishermen’s Association.
