Baltic Sea fisheries: ministers decide on catch limits for 2017

Met dank overgenomen van Slowaaks voorzitterschap Europese Unie 2e helft 2016 (EU2016SK) i, gepubliceerd op dinsdag 11 oktober 2016.

Today's agreement is an excellent result, both for the environment and the Baltic fishermen. It was not easy but we managed to achieve a good balance between the sustainability of our marine resources and the needs of the fisheries sector of the countries concerned, in full compliance with the new Baltic multiannual plan.

Gabriela Matečná, Minister for agriculture and rural development of Slovakia

On 10 October 2016 the Council unanimously agreed on next year's total allowable catches (TACs) for the ten commercially most important fish stocks in the Baltic Sea. This agreement paves the way for further negotiations on TACs for the deep sea and the North Sea later this year.

The agreement includes an increase in catches for herring (except in the Gulf of Riga), plaice, and salmon (except in the Gulf of Finland) in line with the Commission proposal. For the remaining stocks, ministers decided on a smaller increase for sprat and no increase for salmon in the main basin.

The following reductions were also agreed: 25% for Eastern cod, 56% for Western cod including bag limit provisions for recreational fisheries, 11% for herring in the Gulf of Riga and 20% for salmon in the Gulf of Finland.

"Today's agreement is an excellent result, both for the environment and the Baltic fishermen. It was not easy but we managed to achieve a good balance between the sustainability of our marine resources and the needs of the fisheries sector of the countries concerned, in full compliance with the new Baltic multiannual plan", said Gabriela Matečná, Minister for agriculture and rural development of Slovakia and president of the Council.

The quantities agreed today take into account the commitment to the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), including the achievement of maximum sustainable yield (MSY), the principles of the multiannual management plan for the Baltic sea, and scientific advice, in particular advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).

For cod in the Baltic ministers also agreed on a number of additional support measures further aimed to improve the state of the stock.