CCB Annual Conference Baltic 2013 & CCB General Meeting, 17-19 May 2013, Tallinn, Estonia

CCB • May 17, 2013

The CCB Annual Conference Baltic 2013 and CCB General Meeting was held in Tallinn, Estonia, between 17-19 May 2013.

CCB Annual Conference 2013 focused on:

Aquaculture: Development and sustainability in the Baltic Sea Region

Presentations were conducted by several actors coming from Aquabest, the Estonian Ministry of Agriculture-Fisheries department, Aquafima and CCB.

The aquaculture is a modern and ongoing subject. The intense debates which took place during the conference showed the strong interest of many organisations of the Baltic Sea region and CCB member organisations. Aquaculture is a field requiring more discussions and analysis so the pros and cons of such activity can be correctly known and assessed.

Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) – Implementation in the Baltic Sea Region

Presentations were conducted by several actors coming from the Estonian Ministry of Environment, HELCOM and CCB.

The presentations about the Marine Strategy Framework Directive underlined the complexity of implementing the directive on the field however, the deadlines are getting closer. Assuring a good coordination between scientific assessment and concrete action field is often underlined has being a key for success.

The Annual Conference 2013 was also a good opportunity for Barbara Jackson from Race For The Baltic to introduce the 2013 summer campaign to the CCB network and other organisations involved in the Baltic Sea region. Race For The Baltic is a cycling campaign around the Baltic Sea, visiting 9 countries and riding around 3 500 km in 3 months. Collecting signatures from the public and relevant stakeholders, we intend to hand over a letter to the Ministers of Environment when they meet in Copenhagen on 3 October asking them to move forward now!

 

NGOs to EU decision makers: Commit to a Genuine Baltic Sea Recovery Plan

By CCB • May 28, 2025
Key Baltic fish populations are in crisis, warn environmental NGOs. New scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, ICES, confirms the poor condition of key Baltic fish populations, several of which remain collapsed (1). EU fisheries ministers must set 2026-catch limits well below ICES advice and prioritise long-term recovery over short-term economic gains.

EU Commission upholds Fisheries Law: Finland's 2025 Atlantic Salmon quota reduced after unjustified overfishing in 2024

By CCB • May 7, 2025
7 May 2025 - Yesterday the European Commission took a strong decision to deduct Finland´s 2025 Atlantic Salmon quota due to unjustified overfishing last year. This action is a clear application of the EU fisheries rules - aiming to ensure sustainable fishing practices and compliance with established quotas - and an important precedent for the consistent enforcement of fisheries law. In 2024, Finland was allocated a strict by-catch quota for Atlantic salmon, with direct fishing prohibited, except for some specific, minor exceptions. Despite this, Finland reported catching 3,162 salmon in a targeted fishery, under a claimed derogation stating the fishery was for scientific research purposes. Upon review, the European Commission concluded that these activities did not meet the legal standards for such an exemption and therefore found this claim unjustified. The number of vessels participating, 32, the number of salmon caught as well as the fact that Finland refused to re-release the salmon after conducting the “scientific research” are all reasons why the fishery cannot be considered to have been carried out for scientific research purposes. As a result, the same number of salmon caught beyond the legal limit in 2024 is now being deducted from Finland’s 2025 quota, from the same stock. “ We welcome the Commission's decision to take enforcement action and apply the law as intended. It sends a clear message to Member States that exceeding quotas will have consequences. However, more consistent enforcement is urgently needed across EU waters, especially in the Baltic Sea, where many fish stocks are collapsing and the ecosystem is in a poor state ” said Aimi Hamberg, CCB Marine Policy Officer. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland has already responded to the Commission´s quota reduction for Atlantic salmon by stating that this decision “is not legally justified” and they will consider taking legal action against it. As this matter continues to evolve, it is highlighting the importance of collective responsibility in managing fish stocks sustainably. Species like salmon, herring and cod , are under increasing pressure due to overfishing, climate change and habitat loss. In this context, rule enforcement is not just a bureaucratic step but a necessary action to ensure the long-term sustainability of marine life in the Baltic Sea.