The European Commission (EC)’s latest proposals for fishing quotas in the Baltic Sea ignore scientific advice for some of the stocks, NGOs Our Fish and the Fisheries Secretariat (FishSec) have warned.
The EC’s plan, which will go to the European Council in October for a final decision, suggests cutting total allowable catches (TACs) on some herring stocks, and increasing those on cod and plaice.
“While moving in the right direction, Our Fish is concerned that the EU Commission is again choosing to propose fishing limits above what science says is safe,” said Our Fish program director Rebecca Hubbard.
“This is not only a warning for EU ambition on ocean governance, it sets a low bar for EU fisheries ministers to deliver on their duty to end overfishing. Despite this, fisheries ministers can still respond to EU citizens’ expectations and restore ocean health by setting limits that will end overfishing in the Baltic Sea in 2019.”
Undercurrent: NGOs claim Baltic proposals ignore science on safe fishing levels