Have the article read by OpenAI (Beta). Please note that AI translations may take some time to process.Brussels (dpa) – The European Commission on Monday proposed slashing catch quotas for cod, salmon and sprat in the Baltic Sea in 2025 due to the “dire situation” of the waters’ key fishing stocks.
European Commission Executive Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič said in a statement that despite efforts to rebuild fish populations he was “worried about the poor state of the Baltic Sea fish stocks.” The Slovak is temporarily responsible for the environment, oceans and fisheries portfolios following the resignation in July of former Lithuanian Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, who is now an MEP.
According to the Commission’s proposals, catches of western and eastern cod are to be reduced by 73 percent and 68 percent respectively compared to 2024. Sprat is to be reduced by 42 percent
Catch limits for salmon in the Gulf of Finland are to be reduced by 20 percent while the salmon catch in the main basin of the Baltic Sea is to be reduced further by 36 percent. Western herring should be reduced by 50 percent.
However, the Commission suggested increasing catch limits for herring in the central Baltic by 108 percent and 10 percent in the Gulf of Riga.
The Commission said the proposals were based on scientific analysis from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
The proposed catch limits are to be debated and approved by EU member states. The catch limits are then shared in national quotas that determine how many fish an EU country may catch.
As well as the risk of overfishing, fish stocks in the Baltic are also under threat due to environmental issues. Biodiversity loss, climate change and elevated levels of pollutants like litter and pharmaceutical waste pose a threat to fishing stocks, the Commission said. (26 August)
The editorial responsibility for the publication lies with dpa.