On Friday, European Fisheries Ministers agreed on levels for Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for the Baltic Sea in 2012. Building on the progress from last year, Ministers decided to apply cuts for those stocks where scientists had recommended decreases. Although, some important steps towards stock recovery and the achievement of Maximum Sustainable Yield by 2015 were made, the Minsters decisions are still not in line with scientific advice for all stocks.
The largest cuts in 2012 will be made for salmon (-51%) in the main basin and the gulf of Riga—although still below the 79% proposed reduction—as well as for central Baltic herring (-27%). Decreases in TAC will also be seen for herring in the Gulf of Riga (-21%) and sprat (-22%).
Increases in TACs were agreed on for the western cod stock and eastern cod stock, up by 13% and 15% respectively, which is in line with the multiannual cod management plan. The largest increase was for the western Baltic herring, where the quota will be increased by 32%, which is in line with scientific recommendations.
It has to be noted that scientists have issued warnings for the poor state of the salmon stocks in the central Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga for many years now. Although the cut in TAC for 2012 can be considered comparatively high, the TAC is still about 57% higher than the level recommended by scientists to ensure stock recovery.
For the salmon in the Gulf of Finland the situation is rather complicated as a continuation of last year’s TAC was agreed on (see table below). According to scientific recommendations there should be no fishing on wild salmon in this area, and fishing should only be allowed on reared (farmed and released) salmon. This poses a particular problem as it is difficult to distinguish between reared and wild salmon, and therefore, all Member States ought to comply to ‘fin clipping’ of reared salmon to enable more effective management .
Prior to the annual quotas being set for EU fisheries this year, the European Commission raised concerns about the number of data poor stocks in the European waters. Lack of data for some stocks inhibits accurate scientific advice being provided for the proposed annual quotas and creates problems in moving towards multiannual plans. In response to this, the Commission proposed 25% cuts for data poor stocks—such as plaice—in an effort to improve data collection by member states. This proposal however has fallen at the first hurdle, with only a 5% cut being agreed by the Council for plaice.
At the November Council, where North Sea and Atlantic Ocean quotas will be agreed upon, the Commission has proposed a 25% cut for several stocks. However, given the outcome of the plaice negotiations, the Commission will need to find a new strategy to get EU Member States to collect accurate data on catches and landings.
