Fishing boat on the Baltic Sea.
Photo: Ina Hensel / Adobe Stock.
The European Commission has this week adopted its proposal for fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2026, setting out total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for ten fish stocks managed by the EU. The proposal follows advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and applies the Baltic Sea multiannual management plan agreed in 2016, the EC said.
The Commission's proposal reflects what it describes as the "dire situation" of several Baltic Sea fish stocks.
Increases are proposed only for salmon in the Gulf of Finland (+1%), while central Baltic herring and sprat would remain unchanged. The plans would see sharp reductions in catches of several stocks, including Bothnian herring (-62%), herring in the Gulf of Riga (-17%), plaice (-3%), and salmon in the Baltic's main basin (-27%).
Allocations for unavoidable by-catches of western Baltic cod (-84%), eastern Baltic cod (-63%) and western Baltic herring (-50%) would also be reduced under the EU proposal.
The Commission stated that these measures reflect scientific evidence of declining stock sizes. For cod, catch limits would remain restricted to by-catches, with all existing conservation measures kept in place, as Baltic stocks are still in poor condition despite restrictions introduced in 2019.
For herring, the Commission proposes removing exemptions for small-scale coastal fisheries in the western Baltic and applying stricter limits in the Bothnian Sea, along with a three-month spawning closure to aid recovery.
Central Baltic herring stocks are described as stable, but the Commission proposes a cautious approach by maintaining existing TACs and also introducing a spawning closure. A similar approach is proposed for sprat stocks which, while low, are forecast to improve. However, the Commission also proposes maintaining current limits on sprat due to uncertainty.
For salmon, differences remain between river populations, with ICES continuing to recommend restrictions in the main basin. Proposed measures include delaying fishing seasons in some areas and banning recreational fishing for reared salmon.
“I am worried about the poor state of the Baltic Sea fish stocks and the impact that this has on local fishers. Too many fish stocks are close to collapsing and the ecosystem is worsening," said European Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis, via a press release.
"We need to fully implement the EU legislation and take measures at all levels and in all policy areas or this situation will continue over the coming years. We must rebuild fish stocks and reinforce the ecosystem in the Baltic. This must be a joint effort," Kadis argued.
The Council of the EU will now examine the proposal and is expected to set the final TACs at its meeting on 27–28 October 2025.