Norwegian purse seiners in Bergen. (Photo: Odin Hjellestad/FIS)

New Baltic Sea TACs for include increases for herring

EUROPEAN UNION
Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 02:40 (GMT + 9)

European ministers reached political agreement on fishing opportunities for 2013 for certain fish stocks in the Baltic Sea. The Council also discussed a proposal for the European maritime and fisheries fund (EMFF) within the framework of the common fisheries policy (CFP) reform package. 

For Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), the total allowable catch (TAC) in the Gulf of Bothnia was left intact at 106,000 tonnes. In the Western Baltic it was increased by 23 per cent to 25,800 tonnes, and in the Eastern Baltic it was boosted by 15 per cent to 90,180 tonnes, due to the marked improvement in stock status. In the Gulf of Riga, the TAC remained at 30,576 tonnes.

For Baltic cod (Gadus morhua), the TAC was lowered by 9 per cent to 61,565 tonnes in the Eastern Baltic and by 6 per cent to 20,043 tonnes in the Western Baltic. These decisions correspond with the multiannual plan applicable to these cod stocks on 18 September 2007.

The TAC for European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) was increased by 18 per cent to 3,409 tonnes.

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) saw its TAC decreased by 11 per cent to 108,762 salmon, except for in Baltic Sea subdivision 32, where it stayed put at 15,419 specimens. This TAC was set even though scientific advice was a maximum of 54,000 individual salmon to be fished in the Baltic Sea for 2013.

The proposed measures were established taking into account available scientific advice and, in particular, the reports drawn up by the International Council for the exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF).
 
“The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) commends the European Council in setting the Baltic TACs at or close to the scientific advice but regrets that for the vulnerable and data deficient species such as the Baltic salmon, or plaice, the ICES advice was not followed,” said Sarunas Zableckis, European Marine & Fisheries Policy Officer, WWF European Policy Office.

These fisheries will be open on 1 January 2013.

Related article:

- 2013 TACs set for Baltic Sea

By Natalia Real
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

Print