The European Commission has proposed limits for fishing in the Baltic: What does this mean for EU fisheries?

Increasing herring quotas One of the key aspects of the new proposal is a significant increase in the total allowable catch (TAC) of herring in the central Baltic Sea. The quota will be increased by 108%, which corresponds to 83,881 tonnes. This decision is certainly motivated by the positive changes in the herring population, which demonstrates the results of sustainable fisheries management in the region. It is also envisaged to increase the herring quota in the Gulf of Riga by 10%, to 41,635 tonnes. Reducing quotas for other species However, not all fish species can expect to receive quota increases. For salmon in the main basin of the Baltic Sea, a 36% reduction is proposed, which will lead to a decrease to 34,787 tonnes. In the Gulf of Finland, the reduction will be 20%, to 8,117 tonnes. This reduction is dictated by the need to protect salmon populations, which are under pressure due to overfishing and habitat change. The sprat quota will also be reduced by 42%, to 117,070 ...