Fishing opportunities for the Baltic Sea for 2010

Based on this advice and in line with the communication on fishing opportunities for 2010 and the multi-annual plan for cod in the Baltic Sea, the Commission has proposed increases of fishing opportunities for Baltic cod of 15% (Eastern stock) and 9% (Western stock). For the Western herring stock, the Commission is proposing a 21% reduction in fishing opportunities. The present proposal for fishing possibilities shall be discussed at the October Fisheries Council.

Cod stocks

The Commission is proposing an increase of 15% in the EU TAC for eastern Baltic cod, from 44,580 tonnes to 51,267 tonnes, and an increase of 9% in the TAC on western Baltic cod, from 16,337 tonnes to 17,700 tonnes.

Herring

The Western herring stock has declined further, following a 2009 TAC which was set well above scientific advice. The incoming year class is only a quarter of the long term average. This stock intermingles with the North Sea herring stock, which is also suffering from poor recruitment. Having taken the economic situation of the sector into consideration, the Commission is proposing a reduction of 21% in the TAC for Western Herring, from 27,176 tonnes, to 21,469 tonnes. The Commission also proposes a 15% reduction in fishing possibilities for the Central Herring stock (from 143,609 tonnes to 122,068 tonnes) and the same percentage reduction for sprat (from 399,953 tonnes to 339,960 tonnes).

Salmon

Given the decreasing salmon juveniles at sea survival of Baltic salmon and the poor status of some of the river stocks subject to mixed stock fishing within the main basin, the TAC in the main Basin has been reduced by 15%. For the Gulf of Finland, no TAC reduction has been proposed since for this area, the causes of the problem need to be addressed primarily by national management measures in inland waters.