LIFE calls for an immediate revision of the EC’s proposal on Baltic Sea fishing opportunities 2025 citing flawed science as its vindication
Flawed Science and Controversial Fishing Limits:
The Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) have strongly criticised the European Commission’s (EC) proposal for 2025 Baltic Sea fishing opportunities, labelling it “incomprehensible” and “not fit for purpose.”
LIFE argues that the EC’s decision, based on flawed scientific advice, could lead to further degradation of vital fish stocks and disrupt the region’s small-scale fisheries.
LIFE’s main concern stems from the use of only three years of data to assess the status of the Gulf of Bothnia herring stock, rather than a more comprehensive long-term analysis. This method has led to a proposed 21% quota increase, despite the fact that the herring stock is at a record low and quotas have been underutilised in recent years. The proposal allows for over 66,000 tonnes of herring to be caught in 2025, a decision that has alarmed many within the fishing community.
At LIFE’s event in June, Dr. Rainer Froese from the GEOMAR Institute highlighted that the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has consistently overestimated the biomass of fish stocks in the Baltic Sea. He argued that these inflated estimates have led to fishing limits that are too high, putting the sustainability of the region’s fisheries at risk.
This sentiment is echoed by small-scale fishers across the Baltic, who are concerned that the proposal jeopardises their livelihoods. Swedish MEPs in the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee (PECH) also expressed their dismay. Sofie Eriksson of the Socialists & Democrats (S&D) group questioned the motives behind the proposal, saying, “I am really worried that there is an economic interest behind all this.” Green MEP Isabella Lövin, a former Swedish Environment Minister, criticised the proposal for failing to meet the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), which aims to rebuild stocks and maintain them above levels that can produce Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY).
LIFE’s critique highlights that MSY, a target central to fisheries management, requires accurate and reliable data. By relying on only three years of stock data, ICES scientists used an “extremely truncated” dataset that coincided with historically low stock levels, raising concerns about the accuracy of the proposed fishing limits.
Christian Tsangarides, LIFE’s Coordinator for the Baltic and North Sea, pointed to the herring in the Gulf of Bothnia as a clear example of flawed science. “If ICES had used 60 years of data, they would have recommended a much lower quota—around 28,000 tonnes. Instead, the model based on only three years has resulted in a quota that is far too high, threatening the future of the stock.”
The proposal, according to LIFE, not only undermines efforts to achieve MSY but also risks the collapse of the Swedish surströmming industry, which depends heavily on Bothnian herring. Additionally, LIFE criticises the EC for failing to consider the interconnection between species such as herring, salmon, and seals, calling for a multispecies approach to fisheries management.
Brian O’Riordan, LIFE’s Policy Advisor, summed up the problem, referencing the longstanding critique of MSY as a flawed concept: “Fisheries is an imprecise science dressed up to look rigorous and precise. It’s inherently flawed, with high levels of uncertainty.”
LIFE is now calling for the EC to revise its proposal immediately and reset fishing limits in line with a more precautionary MSY approach to ensure the long-term stability of fish stocks in the Baltic Sea. They argue that the current proposal threatens not only the fish stocks but also the livelihoods of small-scale fishers and the broader marine ecosystem.