The European Commission has tabled its proposal on fishing possibilities for fish stocks in the Baltic Sea for 2011. Based on scientific advice, the Commission proposes increased fishing opportunities for Baltic cod, but sharp decreases for pelagic stocks (herring and sprat). The present proposal for fishing possibilities shall be discussed at the October Fisheries Council. The European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki commented: "The return of the Baltic cod is good news. The long term management plan for cod which we put in place together with strong measures against misreporting has helped us to reduce fishing pressure to sustainable levels, which has given stocks the time to replenish and allows us to again increase the TACs for both the Eastern and Western stocks. The situation of pelagic stocks – herring and sprat – is unfortunately the opposite. Most of these stocks experience again rather weak incoming year classes. Yet, the fishing pressure has continued to be high and has in some cases even increased over the last few years. We will need to make serious reductions in fishing pressure to ensure sustainable management of these important stocks.”