Is Western Baltic Herring Essential for the Euro-Baltic Fish- Processing Plant?

– Western Baltic herring is heavily overfished and is on the on verge of commercial collapse – ICES scientists advise zero fishing quota for 2nd year in a row
– Both Germany and the EU Commission do not support the scientific advice, and are instead looking for a quote of 2751 tonnes western Baltic herring for 2020.
– Fish processing plant on Baltic coast is used by Germany’s Fisheries Minister tojustify why Germany wants to set fishing limit above scientific advice
– Processing Plant currently takes 90-100% of its herring supply from North Sea
– Even if Baltic herring limits are set higher than scientists advise, it won’t helpsupply the plant – there simply isn’t enough western Baltic herring.
– But the fishing company that catches all the quota is a huge profitable multi-national from Netherlands, who has already received millions in subsidies –
public money to build the plant in the first place
– Smaller fishers are unable to sell their herring catches to the plant
– Providing subsidies that support overfishing perpetuates a vicious and irrationalcycle of inefficient, unprofitable and destructive fisheries management, which destroys marine biodiversity and undermines the oceans capacity for resilience in the face of climate breakdown

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