New impulse for the CCB work in 2018-2019

CCB • April 25, 2018

The CCB Board Meeting (19-20/04), the Annual Conference (20-21/04) and the General Meeting (22/04) were held in Zelenogradsk (Kaliningrad region), Russia.

The theme of the 2018 Annual Conference was #IamtheBaltic , with focus on personal responsibility and inputs to the protection of the Baltic Sea. Agenda of the event consisted of:

  • Group discussions on the plans of CCB working areas:
    • water protection in agriculture;
    • river basin and wastewater management;
    • fisheries and aquaculture;
    • biodiversity and nature protection;
    • hazardous substances and marine litter;
    • harmful installations and maritime transport, including ‘Nuclear Baltic’ and ‘ STOP E40 ’ campaigns;
    • sustainable development in coastal and marine areas.
  • Joint clean-up activity at the Curonian National Park , and
  • an interactive workshop led by David Kronlid, Swedish International Centre of Education for Sustainable Development (SWEDESD) of Uppsala University, and Nils Höglund, CCB Secretariat. Following the question: “How do we move the anchor and not only the buoy?”, the aim was to discuss our values and own views of nature in order to better communicate and work on our topics and reach a real sustainable future.

Also the preparations were presented on:

  • Nature Accessible Certificate (NaaC Certificate) for coastal and nature conservation by Latvian Green Movement;
  • Our Common Baltic ” summer course.

The General Meeting addressed several important issues, including:

CCB expresses a warm welcome to the new organisations and board members and wishes a strong and successful collaboration for the upcoming years.

These meetings represented once again an important moment for all of us to meet up, share experiences and strengthen our relations. In this regard, CCB is open to accept proposals for the theme of the next Annual Conference, which potentially will be held in Latvia.

Last but not least, a special thanks to all the participants and sincere gratitude to Dmitry Filippenko and his colleagues from “ Green Planet ” for the excellent organisation of the CCB´s events.

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.
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.