Seminar “Reducing Nutrient Runoff from Large-Scale Animal Production in the Baltic Sea Region”

CCB • December 10, 2013

On December 6, 2013, in Warsaw, Poland, Coalition Clean Baltic, together with Green Federation Gaja, Baltic Manure and the Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the WestPomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, organized the Seminar “Reducing nutrient runoff from large-scale animal production in the Baltic Sea Region”. More than 60 people participated.

Stakeholders from Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Russia, Ukraine and Sweden took the floor to present the situation of the large-scale animal production in their country. Some experts presented the impact of such farms on the environment of the Baltic Sea Region. Other stakeholders focused their presentation on manure management and animal fertilizers. The cape between the current practices and the environmental friendly technologies of animal fertilizers available today was highlighted.

The Seminar gave an overview of the large-scale animal farms situation in the Baltic Sea Region. One important conclusion was that stronger regulations and control is needed for big animal farm, to mitigate the eutrophication problem of rivers, lakes and the Baltic Sea environment. Finally, the participants exchanged concrete experiences and brought home some good practices to be shared with the local farmers.

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.