The European Commission has tabled its proposal on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2012.
Based on scientific advice, the Commission proposes to increase TACs for both stocks of Baltic cod as well as for two stocks of herring (Western and the Gulf of Bothnia). The Commission says that decreases for the remaining stocks, in particular salmon, are deemed necessary, given the poor state of the fish stocks in question.
The Commission also proposes to limit the number of days at sea for fishing vessels, to the levels established last year. The overall aim of the proposals is to make fisheries in the Baltic Sea environmentally and economically sustainable by following the recommendations of scientists.
European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki said: "This proposal takes care of the Baltic Sea fish stocks to preserve them for the benefit of current and future generations. We are trying to manage them in a responsible manner in line with the principles of our reform. Reaching our targeted Maximum Sustainable Yield will lead not only to healthier fish stocks, but also to better income and more jobs for the fisheries sector."
In particular, the Commission proposes to increase by 15% (to 67,850t) the TAC for eastern Baltic cod and by 13% (to 21,300t) the TAC for western Baltic cod.
The Commission proposes to increase the TAC for the Western herring stock by almost one third (to 20,900t) and to slightly increase the TAC for the Gulf of Bothnia herring (by 2% to 106,000t). The central and Gulf of Riga herring stocks are not sufficiently recovered, therefore the Commission proposes to reduce the TACs for these stocks by 33% and 21% respectively.
The Commission proposes to reduce the salmon TAC for the main basin by almost 80% and by almost 30% for the Gulf of Finland stock.
The proposal for sprat is to reduce the TAC by 26%, to 213,110t.
There is no scientific data on the size of the plaice stock. Because it is not known what catch would be sustainable, the Commission decided to take a cautious approach and to propose a 25% reduction in the TAC until more data can be collected and the proper catch level can be determined.
The present proposal will be discussed by the member states' ministers at the October Fisheries Council.
