2026 Baltic Sea fishing opportunities proposed

Amongst Brussels’ new proposals are a 1% increase fishing opportunities for salmon in the Gulf of Finland, and to maintain the current catch effort for central Baltic herring and sprats. The Commission has also proposed a decrease in the fishing of Bothnian herring (-62%), herring in the Gulf of Riga (-17%), plaice (-3%) and salmon in the main basin (-27%), as well as allocations for unavoidable by-catches of western Baltic cod (-84%), eastern Baltic cod (-63%) and western Baltic herring (-50%).

It explained that the proposed TACs are based on the best available scientific advice from the International Council on the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and follow the Baltic Sea multiannual management plan adopted in 2016 by the European Parliament and the Council.

For eastern Baltic cod, the Commission intends to keep a catch limit for unavoidable by-catches and all the accompanying measures which have already been in place for several years. It said that since the stock continues to be in a bad condition, the by-catch limit should be adjusted to the actual needs.

Despite measures taken since 2019, when scientists first warned about the poor status of cod, the situation has not improved.

With there being a similar situation for western Baltic cod, the Commission has proposed adjusting the by-catch TAC to actual needs, and to keep all the accompanying measures.

Noting that the stock size of western Baltic herring remains significantly below minimum levels, it has proposed removing the exemption for small-scale coastal fisheries and adjusting the TAC to unavoidable by-catches only.

It also advised that the stock size of Bothnian herring continues to decrease and has reached one of its lowest levels on record.

ICES recommends a catch decrease and the Commission proposes a TAC level which should ensure with a high probability that the stock will not fall below the minimum biomass reference level. The Commission has further proposed a three-month spawning closure in shallow coastal waters to support successful spawning and the eventual recovery of the stock.

The stock size of central Baltic herring has been above the minimum level for two years.

ICES forecasts a very positive stock development due to high estimated recruitment but emphasises that this forecast is more uncertain than usual. The Commission has therefore proposed a cautious approach and to maintain the current TAC. In addition, it has proposed a three-month spawning closure in shallow coastal waters.

Herring in the Gulf of Riga is healthy, and the Commission has proposed setting catch limits according to the maximum level advised by ICES.

According to the Commission, the size of the sprat stock has decreased significantly due to persistently low reproduction rates and is at its lowest level since 1990 and close to unhealthy levels. With ICES estimating record high recruitment in 2024 but emphasising that the forecast is more uncertain than usual, the Commission has proposed a cautious approach by maintaining the TAC and the three-month spawning closure.

It also highlighted that the status of the different river salmon populations in the Baltic main basin varies considerably, with some remaining weak and others healthy. To achieve healthy levels, ICES advised four years ago the closure of all salmon fisheries in the main basin. At the same time, ICES assessed that it would be possible to maintain certain fisheries during the summer in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Åland Sea.

ICES maintained the principle of its advice for 2026 but decreased the related catch level further because of the probable overestimation of the most important salmon river population in combination with continued uncertainty about the reproduction rates. The Commission has therefore proposed adjusting the fishing opportunities and the accompanying measures accordingly: delaying the start of the fishing seasons in some areas and banning recreational fishing for reared salmon, as the latter unavoidably also causes the death of wild salmon.

Based on these proposals, EU countries will take a final decision to determine the maximum quantities of the most important commercial fish species that can be caught in the Baltic Sea basin. The Council will examine the Commission’s proposal in view of adopting the final TACs during its meeting on 27-28 October 2025.