New CCB Report on Industrial Livestock Farming

CCB • August 25, 2014

The CCB project report on Industrial Livestock Farming  – Environmental Protection Context in the Baltic Sea catchment area is now available on-line. The report contain information on overall characteristics of the industrial farm sector in the Baltic Sea Region, an inventory of existing industrial livestock farms (with a size that require permits according to national legislation and IE Directive). The focus is on installations in Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, Russia and Ukraine, but information will also include description of the situation in Czech Republic, Finland, Norway and Slovakia. It also include recommendations for important steps needed for a better implementation of existing legislation and regulations.

The authors of this paper explore central questions, looking for possible answers, hoping to make the present report the first such comprehensive study of the issue ever made in the Baltic Sea Region Questions are: What is the scale of intensive livestock industry in the region? What is the current status of the implementation of the agriculture-oriented Annex III to the Helsinki Convention? What are the main problems connected with industrial livestock production in the Baltic Sea catchment area? Are there any methods to prevent negative impact of industrial livestock farming to make it, if not friendly, then perhaps neutral to the natural environment?

The present report is built on the foundations established in the CCB Report on industrial swine and cattle farming in the Baltic Sea catchment area published by the Coalition Clean Baltic in 2007.

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.