EU agrees higher Baltic Sea fishing limits
EU ministers have increased Baltic sprat and herring catch limits for 2027, while maintaining cod recovery measures
EU fisheries ministers have agreed higher catch limits for several Baltic Sea fish stocks in 2027, offering improved prospects for fishing fleets while retaining restrictions designed to support cod recovery.
The agreement, reached on 26 October, increases permitted catches of sprat by 44%, central Baltic herring by 71% and Bothnian herring by 12%. The changes reflect improving prospects for these stocks and provide additional opportunities for the region’s fishing industry.
Cod will remain subject to by-catch-only limits, allowing recovery efforts to continue while permitting limited incidental catches. The prohibition on recreational cod fishing throughout the Baltic Sea will also remain in place.
Europêche, the European fisheries industry association, welcomed the agreement and highlighted the improvements compared with the European Commission’s initial proposal. The organisation considers the recovery of central Baltic herring and sprat evidence that recent conservation measures are beginning to deliver results.
In the run-up to the decision, the fishing sector called for catch limits to follow scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, rather than extreme precautionary measures unsupported by evidence.
The industry has implemented substantial catch reductions and restrictions in recent years to help rebuild fish stocks. Europêche argues that future decisions must continue to balance scientific recommendations with the economic viability of fishing businesses and coastal communities.
The association also stressed that fisheries management alone cannot resolve the Baltic Sea’s environmental challenges. Nutrient pollution, chemical contaminants, climate change and predator impacts must be addressed through a broader, science-based strategy involving the fishing sector in developing solutions.
Europêche credited the Danish BALTFISH Presidency with helping secure a balanced agreement in record time, highlighting regional cooperation as an important factor in reaching a compromise.
