Highlights

© Jose Juan Castellano, Fotolia

On 26 October the Agriculture and Fisheries Council reached a political agreement on a regulation which establishes fishing quotas for 2011 in the Baltic Sea for the EU vessels. Compared with last year's numbers, this legal act provides for a decrease in fishing opportunities, total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas.

The newly-fixed quotas concern herring, cod, plaice, Atlantic salmon and sprat. The most important reductions in quotas are for sprat and herring. According to scientific advice, such a cut would be an optimal solution to avoid fishing mortality. In contrast, the quota for the Baltic Sea cod is increased, which is a result of the successfully implemented multi-annual plan for restoring the diminished cod stocks in the Baltic Sea. This plan was developed in 2007.

Such quantitative restrictions on fishing activity in the Baltic Sea are necessary to avoid overexploitation of the fish stocks and to reduce damage to the marine environment. At the same time, they help to ensure a fair allocation of resources among the member states and to guarantee the livelihoods of fishermen. These quotas are shared between 8 Baltic countries.

Unlike many other legislative acts, this regulation is adopted by the Council alone, on a proposal from the Commission. These TACs and quotas are fixed every year, following the best available scientific advice on the status of fish stocks and taking into consideration economic and social aspects of the fishing industries of the coastal member states.

More information:
Press release (pdf)
Webcast of press conference
Common Fisheries Policy