The EU cuts herring catches and maintains a ban on cod in the Baltic

The Council agreed on the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and quotas for ten of the most commercially valuable species in the Baltic Sea, including cod, salmon or herring. The agreement reached, which does not directly affect Spain because the national fleet does not fish in those waters, reduces fishing opportunities for most fish stocks, taking into account the latest scientific advice that highlights the poor conditions in the Baltic Sea. The aim is to aid the recovery of the species, and in that context they agreed to continue with the closure of the eastern Baltic cod fishery and allow only a by-catch quota, which was again significantly reduced compared to last year. The largest cuts in Total Allowable Catch (TAC) were for herring from the western and central Baltic Sea. Ministers agreed to a moderate increase in TACs for herring in the Gulf of Riga, Western Baltic cod, plaice, sprat and salmon in the main Baltic Sea basin, while salmon in the Gulf of Finland will decrease ...