Multiannual Fisheries Management Proposed For the Baltic Sea
In order to increase predictability for fishermen and to ensure high, stable and sustainable catches, the European Commission has, for the first time under the new Common Fisheries Policy, proposed a multiannual fisheries management plan for the Baltic Sea that applies to cod, herring and sprat stocks. It is the first real mixed fisheries management plan and replaces the management plan in place for the two Baltic cod stocks.
The plan will ensure the sustainable exploitation of these Baltic Sea stocks so that the fishing industry can enjoy stable fisheries with higher yields.
For fishermen, it means clearer and simpler rules. The plan leaves room for manoeuver for Member States and stakeholders to decide about how to best implement the plan in their sea-basin. It also empowers local stakeholders when it comes to developing technical measures and taking ownership of fisheries management.
Since it applies to several fisheries, the plan ensures that the fisheries management is based on the most up to date scientific information on interactions within and between the stocks and with other aspects of the ecosystem and environment.
Rather than short-term planning, this multiannual plan takes a long term approach to the management of fish stocks, taking into account the specificities of different fisheries. This approach is crucial to the objective of exploiting fish stocks at a sustainable level.
European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, says: “This plan for the Baltic Sea is what we sought to achieve when we reformed the Common Fisheries Policy. It gives power to regional actors, and instead of having year-on-year planning, this long term plans will help ensure the sustainability of our stocks in the Baltic and provide a reliable source of income from fishing for fishermen. The implementation of the reformed fisheries policy is now in full swing and I now look forward to seeing the other sea basins’ plans.”
This management plan is the first such proposal under the new Common Fisheries Policy and after an inter-institutional deadlock has been resolved between the European Parliament and the Council in April this year. It will now be further discussed with the European Parliament and Council.
