Fishing Opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2013
The European Commission today tabled its proposal on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2013.
Scientists indicated that more stocks will be fished at Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) level in the Baltic Sea. The cuts in TACs adopted in previous years proved to be efficient measure to reach sustainability in the Baltic fishery. The number of known stocks at MSY level could go up from three to six in 2013 if proposed Total Allowable Catches (TACs) are adopted.
The fishing opportunities for each stock:
Cod
The Commission proposes to decrease by 9 % (to 61 565 tonnes) the TAC for eastern Baltic cod and by 2% (to 20 800 tonnes) the TAC for western Baltic cod. These decreases are due to more precise scientific advice that became available this year.
Herring
For the second year in a row, the Commission proposes to increase the TAC for the Western herring stock. For 2013 this increase is by 23% (to 25 800 tonnes). After decreases adopted for central herring for 2011 and 2012, the TAC for this stock can be increased by 9% to 85 155 as this stock is to be at MSY level in 2013. The decrease by 10% is proposed for stock which has not yet sufficiently recovered, i.e. Gulf of Riga herring. The Gulf of Bothnia heering is within MSY and should be decreased by 7% to stay at MSY.
Salmon
Last year the Commission proposed to reduce TAC for salmon significantly, in order to recover salmon populations to sustainable levels. The TAC for the next year is proposed to be at the similar level as adopted last year corresponding to a slight decrease by 11% (to 108 762 pieces). The proposed reduction is in line with the scientific advice received and is based on the salmon management plan which will help to improve the status of the stock. AS the perception of the Gulf of Finland salmon stock has not changed from the last year the Commission is proposing to adopt the same TAC as last year.
Sprat
The Commission proposes to increase the TAC for sprat by 11%, to 249 978 tonnes.
Plaice
The scientists have developed methodology allowing to estimate the size of the plaice stock for which limited data is available. Based on this methodology, the proposed TAC for plaice constitute an increase by 18% to 3 409 tonnes.
