EU ministers fail to help the Baltic cod but helped the salmon

CCB • October 16, 2018

Yesterday the EU ministers agreed to setting total allowable catches (TACs) for the main fish stocks in the Baltic Sea. Yet again, both Commission and Member States fail to understand the crisis for the cod and set a TAC at least 44% over scientific advice. In fact they even set the TAC 33% higher than the fishing industry called for. One positive take away is a small addition of a new rule to ban sea trout fishing outside 4nm line. Salmons are caught in open sea today but reported as sea trout. This added rule should in effect mean a strong rule to limit IUU on salmon catches in south Baltic.

The Fisheries Council meeting in October each year sets TACs for the main Baltic stocks. NGOs, CCB included, are usually disappointed of decisions taken as insufficient or not in line with scientific advice. This year was no different but CCB wants to underline 2 major setbacks and one positive thing.

Scientists have warned about the terrible state of the western herring stock for some time. This year they were forced to advice on a zero TAC. The Ministers failed to meet that advice, and far from it when deciding to set a TAC at 9001 t. The eastern cod stock in the main basin of the Baltic Sea consists of small, even tiny cod that spawn already at the size of 15-20 cm. Only 3-4 years ago spawning size was believed to be around 35-40 cm, and as a reminder, cod is normally a large and fast growing fish. In normal circumstances, a 4-5 kg cod is a rather normal fish, 10-15 kg a nice one. In the Baltic Sea today, such fish are almost unheard of. The fishermen are not even able to fill the quotas they have because the fish are simple not worth fishing for.

The ministers agreed to set a quota of 24 112 tonnes, that is 44% higher than the expert scientist advised. Actually the scientific advice is even lower because the advice given includes fish of the stock taken outside the areas in question: the area around Bornholm is a mixed cod stocks area. Scientists are aware of the mixing and given the TAC proposed to western cod, it’s likely that some 2-3000 t cods taken in this area are actually from the eastern cod stock, adding to the above set TAC.

This means that the TAC decided by ministers, and the resulting cod fishery linked to it, will mean an overshoot of the scientific precautionary advice with well over 50%.

Regarding the positive news. A small addition to the TACs was made regarding salmon. A new rule was agreed to stop fishing for sea trout outside 4 nautical miles from the coast. This may seem as a small detail but in fact in may have great effect on the current misreporting of salmon as sea trout. Scientific experts have noted this illegal activity mainly from Polish fishermen for years. Last year, estimations point to as much as 30 000 salmons misreported as sea trout.

This small new rule may prove to be a very effective way of stopping this illegal fishing and substantially help the wild Baltic salmon stocks.

Nils Höglund, CCB Fisheries Policy Officer, points out that

The annual cycle of setting TACs by EU ministers is simply not fit for purpose. The ocean health cannot be dictated on short term basis while we aim and strive to reach good environmental status; protect the sea from pollution; halt eutrophication etc in the long term perspective. Nothing in UN, EU or our regional goal of Baltic Sea Action Plan will be achieved unless this circus is changed.

Read the  EU final decision.

 

Job vacancy: Marine Policy Officer (parental leave cover)

By CCB • February 24, 2026
Coalition Clean Baltic – CCB is a politically independent network, uniting 28 environmental non-profit organizations, as well as partners and experts from 11 countries surrounding the Baltic Sea. The main goal of CCB is to promote the protection and improvement of the environment and natural resources of the Baltic Sea region by encouraging new and constructive approaches and engaging people to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. CCB Secretariat is based in Uppsala, Sweden. About the Role Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) is seeking a Marine Policy Officer (parental leave cover) to join its International Secretariat and contribute substantively to regional and EU-level marine advocacy, with a particular focus on the Baltic Sea. The Marine Policy Officer will support the implementation of EU and international marine environmental policy frameworks — notably the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), the EU Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD) and the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) . All work is grounded in the promotion of ecosystem-based management. The role includes close collaboration with the rest of the Secretariat team as well as CCB member organisations to deliver policy initiatives, advocacy actions, and strategic programme objectives. The Marine Policy Officer will also support the International Secretariat in fundraising, with a focus on the EU LIFE operational grant application. Key Responsibilities Policy & Advocacy Support the implementation of CCB’s strategic plan on marine biodiversity policy. Contribute to marine policy advocacy at EU and at Baltic Sea regional levels (e.g. HELCOM, EU Commission expert groups). Provide input to the implementation and revision of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Collect evidence and views to provide NGO inputs to the forthcoming EU Ocean Act and related initiatives. Support the implementation of the Helsinki Convention and Baltic Sea Action Plan. Engage in the revision processes related to the Marine Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD). Programme & Grant Delivery Provide critical support in fundraising, i.e. project proposal development, especially for securing core grant funding (e.g. for the EU LIFE Programme and potentially Horizon programme). Contribute to CCB´s project management, implementation and reporting activities for various projects. Coordination & Monitoring Closely coordinate marine biodiversity policy work with CCB member organisations. Monitor global, EU, and regional marine policy developments. Liaise with partner NGOs and civil society organisations. Communications & Policy Products Draft position papers, policy briefings, consultation inputs and technical reports on relevant files. Support communications and outreach on marine policy issues. Help organise workshops, conferences, and stakeholder events. Represent CCB in policy dialogues, expert groups, and stakeholder forums at the EU and Baltic Sea level. Cross-organisational Support within the Secretariat and its members Contribute to other CCB thematic working areas as required. Profile We are seeking a policy professional who is: Solutions-oriented and adaptable Experienced in advocacy or campaigning Collaborative and team-driven Passionate about marine conservation Organised, diplomatic, and stakeholder-confident Required Qualifications & Experience Demonstrable professional experience in marine or environmental policy. Working knowledge of key EU frameworks, particularly the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Knowledge of Helcom BSAP is an asset. Postgraduate qualification in marine science, ecology, conservation, water management, or related discipline with substantial marine focus. Eligibility to work and travel within the EU (citizenship or valid permit) with residency in Sweden. Excellent written and spoken English. CCB also welcomes applicants from broader environmental policy/law backgrounds who can demonstrate relevant knowledge. Desirable Skills Experience within the NGO or civil society sector preferred. Advocacy or campaigning experience within the EU, the Baltic Sea or international environmental policy processes. Working knowledge of a Baltic Sea region language (e.g. Swedish, Danish, Finnish, German, Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian).

CCB´s submission to the EU Call for Evidence on the Ocean Act

By CCB • February 19, 2026
Uppsala, February 2025 - CCB supports the Ocean Pact and Ocean Act objectives for improving coherence, coordination and effectiveness of EU ocean governance. Yet, in order to achieve this, the Act has to deliver truly ecosystem-based management of our seas and make reaching Good Environmental Status, as defined in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), a cornerstone of the Act. The Ocean Act can set us on a path to recovery of the marine environment under a sustainable and just blue economy, but only if the Act includes the points outlined below and is implemented swiftly and fully.