The Council of the European Union has clinched a hard-won consensus on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2024, aligning with the proposed guidelines presented by the Commission in August. In a move that underscores the gravity of the Baltic’s ecological state, the Council has greenlit selective fishing for certain species to prevent overexploitation. Notably, strict by-catch allowances have been imposed for western herring, western cod, and eastern cod, ensuring their incidental capture only during fishing for other stocks.
Amidst the urgency to restore the Baltic’s environmental equilibrium, the Council has emphasized the continuation of existing remedial measures. Additionally, targeted fishing of central Baltic herring and Bothnian herring has been authorized, albeit with limitations such as a 30-day closure for central herring to safeguard spawner aggregation.
Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries, stressed the need for concrete action to revitalize the Baltic Sea. His call for immediate environmental interventions was resonant, echoing discussions from the recent Our Baltic Conference in Palanga, Lithuania. During the conference, EU leaders expressed support for nature-based solutions like mussel-farming and seaweed cultivation to counteract water pollution and promote ecosystem sustainability.
Furthermore, EU funding provisions may aid Baltic Sea fishermen through the implementation of temporary cessation schemes under the EU Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). With this multifaceted approach, the EU aims to safeguard the Baltic Sea’s delicate marine ecosystem while ensuring the livelihoods of its fishing communities.
