The EAPO has demanded an ecosystem-based recovery to the Baltic Sea fisheries crisis, rejecting placing recovery burden solely on fishermen
The European Association of Fish Producers Organisations (EAPO) and its Baltic Sea Working Group (BSWG) have issued a statement on the Baltic Sea fishing opportunities for 2026, taking note of the ICES scientific advice.
The EAPO is recalling the very worrying state of the Baltic Sea and its marine and aquatic resources. The Association noted that climate change effects are of great concern for fishermen, as rising water temperature, decreasing ice extent, and increasing mean precipitation over the northern region affect biodiversity and fishing activities.
However, EAPO stresses that anthropogenic pressures are playing an increasingly important role in the steady decline in fish populations. These pressures include nutrient emissions leading to eutrophication, land-based pollutions, offshore renewable energy development, and predation by cormorants and seals.
According to HELCOM, the state of the Baltic Sea ecosystem has not improved over the past years, despite numerous political commitments. The results of the assessment conducted from 2016 to 2021 are unequivocal and raise fears of the worst.
“Unfortunately, the results show only little or no improvement in the state of the Baltic Sea environment in 2016-2021 […] For some species groups, such as marine mammals and fish, the integrated status has worsened compared to the previous assessment,” the EAPO stated, quoting the HELCOM assessment. “Many commercial fish stocks in the Baltic Sea are in an especially poor state.” EAPO notes that this deterioration jeopardizes the sustainable use of species and impacts the profitability of fisheries.
The fishing industry argues it pays the price for non-fishing factors strongly affecting the stocks. They cite the compelling example of Cod, where the Western stock showed relatively good recruitment and the Eastern one a relatively successful spawning, but the fish disappear before reaching fishable biomass. Despite the efforts led by the fishing industry to significantly reduce catches, the resource status continues to deteriorate.
Concerning the 2026 fishing orientations, EAPO essentially supports the MSY approach and the corresponding TAC determined by ICES. They emphasize adherence to the best available scientific advice while trying to prevent a socio-economic disaster. “Indeed, we cannot accept that this responsibility should be placed solely on fishermen,” the statement reads. EAPO argues the Commission should not further adapt the fishing opportunities advice provided by science or “double down on the precautionary approach.”
The Association argues that restrictive decisions only have a small impact on stock changes and fail to address the main problem of “Russia’s ever-increasing share of catches on the state of stocks and the further threat to the Baltic Sea.” EAPO fears that by adopting the draft Regulation, the entire burden and significant losses will fall on fishermen in European Member States, which “will only open even greater opportunities for Russian intervention.”
EAPO is in favour of developing a comprehensive ecosystem-based approach to fisheries, in line with the current key priorities of the Baltic Sea Action Plan. They are calling for integrated and ambitious policies and actions to restore the ecosystem, its habitats and its fish populations, safeguarding the activity and livelihoods of the fishing communities.
