Critical for fish species in the Baltic Sea

The state of the Baltic Sea is fragile; slow water circulation, shallowness, habitat loss and overfishing have damaged the marine ecosystem. Stocks such as eastern and western cod, various herring populations and salmon have been in a long-term decline.

To help the fish stocks, ICES, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, provides annual scientific advice and recommended fishing limits in the Baltic Sea to the European commission. 

These fishing limits, also called TACs, is the total allowable catches for different stocks. This is to regulate and avoid exploitation of the species.

A crisis decades in the making

According to HELCOM, the Baltic Marine Environment protection commission, fishing activity in the Baltic Sea rapidly increased between 1950 to 1990. By the mid 1980s, Baltic cod catches had reached a record peak, resulting in a collapse for the cod population.

Today’s marine crisis is largely due to decades of intense fishing pressure, combined with environmental degradation.

ICES reports that the western Baltic cod population still have not recovered, while eastern Baltic cod remains in poor condition. The European Commission found that, “When fish populations are depleted, it can disrupt the balance of the entire food chain.”

European commission pushes for stricter fishing quotas

Based on ICES recommendations, the Commission proposes a continued stop for all catches of eastern and western Baltic cod in 2026. 

Despite signs of potential recovery of the stock sprat, the commission has proposed to not increase the TAC. The commission is also aiming to decrease commercial catches for main basin salmon.

The western herring stock is facing an ongoing depletion, and ICES advice to stop all fishing of the stock. 

A higher TAC decrease on Bothnian herring has additionally been proposed by the European Commission, to avoid the stock from falling below critical thresholds. 

The proposals are rooted in the Baltic Sea Multiannual Plan, which allows for emergency measures when stocks fall below safe levels. According to the European Commission rebuilding depleted fish stocks takes time.

It is very difficult to estimate how long it will take to reach a healthy and good stock. However, the Commission’s proposal outlines a strategic direction to recovery.

A third high-level conference on Baltic fisheries will take place in Stockholm to monitor progress and remaining challenges, on 30. september 2025.