Bringing life to the Oder River, from the source to the sea

CCB • July 31, 2023

In the coming days, July 31st-August 4th, 2023, various river stakeholders (academic staff, water-related institutions, municipalities and government representatives, locals, NGOs, business owners, individuals) from 11 European countries will visit the Oder Delta during the 4th edition of the international River University (1), organised by Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) in collaboration with Rewilding Oder Delta (ROD).

Taking the Oder River as an example and focusing on water pollution and risk management, they will explore the impact of the river's condition on the Baltic Sea, as well as climate change's consequences on the waters in the region.

The need for recovery

In 2022, the Oder, the transboundary river of Poland, Germany and Czech Republic, having one of the extraordinary European deltas, experienced the worst scenario of environmental catastrophe on Europe's scale, caused by anthropogenic pollution (2). To this day, the Oder River still registers a high level of salinity and conductivity. Saline discharges are an ongoing threat, and the toxic “golden algae” Prymnesium parvum are still present in the waters, with fish kills at specific points observed. These issues represent significant challenges for a smooth recovery.


"The Oder River recovery should be addressed holistically rather than in silos. We need a source-to-sea approach and awareness of the role that healthy rivers play in achieving a Good Environmental Status in the Baltic Sea. Sustainable use and protection are the only long-term, wise approaches to such riverine areas. It is a well-known fact that natural rivers have a greater self-cleaning capacity, offering many benefits to their users," - says Peter Torkler, Managing Director at Rewilding Oder Delta, and co-organiser of this year's River University edition.


Protection Plans for the Lower Oder River

The concept of a cross-border protected area of the Lower Oder River and its valley was made decades ago. Today, this initiative is still considered, needed and wanted, as it will benefit the river's health and the region's economy. Polish citizens of the Oder basin renewed these efforts with the initiative of Lower Odra Valley National Park (3). Already in the 1990s, a national park was established in the German part of this area. The need to create a coherent transboundary area of a protected Oder River valley should go from the old visionary papers to the bright new reality. The reality in which people not only use the rivers but also protect them, taking care of water security.


During the River University, participants will go on a canoe trip in the vicinity of an existing German national park and a planned Polish national park, in order to experience the ecological state of the river and discuss the topics of sustainable use and protection of natural resources and water safety.


Between rivers and the sea

On Thursday, the participants together with the staff of ZERUM educational centre in Ueckermünde will conduct water quality studies on the Szczecin Lagoon and Uecker River. Water samples and aquatic organisms will be examined from a boat and analysed directly on-site. The lagoon with its direct connection to the Oder River and Baltic Sea is sensitive habitat; fluctuations in salinity and high water temperatures have always made the lagoon susceptible to algal blooms. The expertise on the condition of the lagoon is crucial for preventing such events from happening as well as awareness raising on the importance of healthy and clean waters.


Connecting stakeholders and river practitioners

Initially founded in 2018 by Ewa Leś, this year's edition of the CCB River University is co-organised by Rewilding Oder Delta. The course will bring together various river stakeholders for five days of engaging indoor and outdoor workshops. The program includes presentations and hands-on activities led by top European academic staff and professionals. Among other sessions, the updated "International Warning and Alarm Plan for Oder Basin" (4) will be analysed due to its significance for the Oder Basin community regarding alarming procedures and communication. Can people feel safe and well-informed in case a similar disaster happens again?

The release and presentation of the new CCB research analysis, "The Greatest Water Management Challenges in the Baltic Sea Region" (5) is planned, aiming to support and foster positive changes in integrated sustainable water management in the Baltic Sea region countries.


"There is a great need for up-to-date applied knowledge of river ecosystems and sustainable integrated water management practices. The River University delivers it in a practical and multi-sectoral manner while still being in contact with the river and its valley," - says Ewa Leś, River University founder and CCB Eutrophication Working Area Leader.


***

Press note in Polish available here.



Further information:

(1) River University is an international and multidisciplinary course for participants from the Baltic Sea Region and Europe, established officially in 2018 under the wings of Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB): https://www.ccb.se/river-university

(2) CCB´s statement (August 2022): https://www.ccb.se/ccb-concerns-regarding-contamination-of-river-odra

ROD´s joint press release (August 2022): https://rewilding-oder-delta.com/en/news/oder-catastrophe-completely-clarify-causes-and-ensure-restoration-of-the-oder-restoration-and-renaturation-of-the-oder-must-now-have-top-priority/

(3) National Park Lower Odra Valley: https://pnddo.pl/en/home/

(4) The update of the “International Warning and Alarm Plan for Oder Basins”: https://www.mkoo.pl/index.php?lang=EN

(5) CCB publication “The Greatest Water Management Challenges in the Baltic Sea Region” (2023): https://www.ccb.se/publication/greatest-water-management-challenges-baltic-sea-region


Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) - Is a politically independent, non-profit association, which unites 27 NGOs, with over 1 500 000 members in all countries around the Baltic Sea. The main goal of CCB is to promote the protection and improvement of the Baltic Sea Environment and its natural resources for present and future generations. More info at: https://www.ccb.se


Rewilding Oder Delta (ROD) - is part of Rewilding Europe’s network founded in 2011 in the Netherlands, which aims to implement the concept of rewilding across the continent. Oder Delta became the eighth rewilding land in 2015. More info at: https://rewilding-oder-delta.com/


Contact:

Press inquiries for the on-site visits (31.07-04.08, Germany, Oder delta, different locations):

 

NGOs urge stronger action as 2027 Baltic Sea fishing limits fall short of securing full recovery of fish populations

By CCB • October 27, 2026
27 October 2026 , Luxembourg - EU fisheries ministers increased central Baltic and Bothnian herring catch limits beyond the European Commission’s proposals and significantly increased the sprat catch limit, falling short of the precaution needed to protect the role of herring and sprat in the Baltic Sea food web. The Council also rejected proposed cuts to accidental catches of severely depleted cod and western Baltic herring populations. NGOs warn that fishing limits remain too high and urge EU ministers to follow the agreement with concrete plans to rebuild depleted fish populations. Herring: further measures needed to safeguard fragile recovery and protect vulnerable populations EU fisheries ministers increased the catch limit for central Baltic herring to 165 228 tonnes, a 71% increase compared with 2026. The population has shown signs of improvement after years of depletion. However, the central Baltic herring population remains vulnerable, and rebuilding must restore healthy age and size structures as well as overall abundance. Although below the scientific headline catch advice, the Council’s decision exceeds the Commission’s proposal, which was more precautionary and recovery-oriented and should have been followed by the ministers. “Ministers have recognised the need for caution, but still allowed more herring to be caught than the Commission proposed. These vulnerable populations need a stronger chance of lasting recovery, with clear rebuilding targets, a timetable for reaching them and measures that are implemented and enforced ,” said Cathrine Pedersen Schirmer, Senior Fisheries Policy Advisor at Coalition Clean Baltic. For Bothnian herring , ministers retained the three-month spawning closure but increased the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) by 12% , despite the population remaining below healthy levels. The Commission’s proposed TAC for this fish population was already a compromise between population rebuilding and maintaining fishing opportunities. The agreed higher TAC poses a risk to the recovery of the Bothnian herring population and creates increasing uncertainty for the industry. “ Fisheries decisions must also account for the risks to fish population recovery. Even catch limits within the ICES advice range can leave stocks at risk of remaining below the biomass levels that should trigger recovery measures. Fishing opportunities must give depleted populations a real chance to recover to healthy level s,” said Beatrice Rindevall, Chairperson of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation. The Gulf of Riga herring TAC was also set above NGOs’ recommendations, with an increase of 11% compared with 2026, despite the recent decline in its spawning biomass and its importance to the Baltic food web. Lower limits for this fish population would have better supported population health and long-term resilience. Sprat: recovery must extend to the Baltic Sea food web The sprat agreement remains a significant concern. The Council’s decision, in line with the Commission’s proposal, to increase the sprat catch limit by 44% to 291 590 tonnes exceeds the level NGOs recommended. Although the population has increased, the agreed limit does not sufficiently account for sprat’s importance as prey for cod, salmon, seabirds and other marine wildlife, persistent catch misreporting or the risk of catching vulnerable herring alongside sprat. “ Herring and sprat are vital to the Baltic Sea ecosystem. When setting fishing opportunities, decision makers must leave enough prey in the water to support predators like cod and salmon, to rebuild ecosystem health and align with the EU’s nature restoration ambitions ,” said Justyna Zajchowska, Fisheries Lead for WWF Baltic Sea Programme. Salmon: no increase in catch limits, but stronger protection needed NGOs welcome the decision not to increase salmon fishing opportunities. However, fishing should be restricted to compensatory hatchery-released salmon or salmon from rivers where populations are at full reproductive capacity. Fishing on vulnerable wild populations must be avoided and, if returning salmon numbers are insufficient, additional adaptive management measures should be deployed immediately, considering the impact of recent poor spawning runs. “ Good returns to some large rivers are encouraging, but they do not demonstrate recovery across the Baltic region. Many smaller river populations remain in serious difficulty. We need fishing restrictions that protect those vulnerable salmon throughout their migration and allow enough fish to reach their spawning grounds ,” said Thomas Johansson, Chairman of Östersjölaxälvar i Samverkan and Secretary General of the Baltic Salmon Fund. Cod, western Baltic herring and plaice: Council misses opportunity to curb bycatch Both Baltic cod populations and western Baltic herring remain severely depleted. Targeted cod fisheries remain closed, while ministers retained the small-scale fisheries exemption for western Baltic herring. Yet ministers agreed bycatch quotas well above the Commission’s proposals for 2027 and at the same level as 2026, falling short of the protection sought by NGOs. For all three populations, the agreed bycatch quotas permit continued catches despite ICES advice for zero catch. The Council’s decision to increase the plaice TAC to 11,237 tonnes , well above the level NGOs recommended, missed an opportunity to secure a reduction in accidental cod catches. The decision also does not reflect the very low reported landings of this species. Declining weight and condition of plaice also warrant greater caution. The TAC must be combined with effective enforcement of mandatory selective gear to reduce cod bycatch and the implementation of the landing obligation. Annual fishing limits must support lasting recovery The Council’s decisions on Baltic Sea fishing opportunities for 2027 are not ambitious enough to secure restoration of all Baltic Sea fish populations. These decisions should be seen in the context of last year’s joint commitment by the European Commission and Baltic Sea Member States to seek dedicated scientific advice from ICES on rebuilding pathways for fish populations. In the absence of such rebuilding-oriented advice, and whilst we are waiting for it, decisions should be more cautious and based on the available recovery-focused catch options provided by the scientists in their traditional advice. Fisheries management must also support EU marine restoration objectives and the achievement of good environmental status in the Baltic Sea. Restoring fish populations and food webs is essential to the recovery of the sea itself and to the long-term future of Baltic fisheries and the coastal communities that depend on them. ENDS *** Further information: Link to Council decision Link to Commission’s proposal Link to Joint NGO recommendations on Baltic Sea fishing opportunities for 2027 Media contact: Beatrice Rindevall, Chairperson, Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, ordforande@naturskyddsforeningen.se Cathrine Pedersen Schirmer , Senior Fisheries Policy Advisor, Coalition Clean Baltic, Cathrine@ccb.se Justyna Zajchowska , Fisheries Lead, WWF Baltic Sea Programme, jzajchowska@wwf.pl Dr. Katja Hockun, Senior Expert Meeresschutz, Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V., hockun@duh.de Konrad Stralka , Executive Director, BalticWaters, konrad.stralka@balticwaters.org Magda Jentgena , Baltic Sea and Freshwater Programme Manager, Pasaules Dabas Fonds, mjentgena@pdf.lv Regan McEnroe , Chairperson, Nature and Youth Sweden, ordforande@faltbiologerna.se Tapani Veistola, Executive Director, Suomen luonnonsuojeluliitto (Finnish Association for Nature Conservation), tapani.veistola@sll.fi Thomas Johansson , Chairman, Östersjölaxälvar i Samverkan, and Secretary General, Baltic Salmon Fund, thomas@balticsalmonfund.com .

CCB's submission on sustainable fishing in the EU

By CCB • August 31, 2026
Uppsala, 31 August 2026 - Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) welcomes the Commission’s recognition that declining fishing pressure has not consistently delivered higher biomass, that recruitment and biomass are deteriorating for a number of stocks, and that Baltic fisheries urgently need rebuilding trajectories. These findings must now shape the Council’s decision on the 2027 fishing opportunities and the Commission’s position during the Council negotiations. The poor status and decline of many Baltic Sea fish populations have been documented over several decades and show that the ecosystem is in severe distress. Cumulative human pressures have contributed to major ecosystem shifts, and at the same time climate change is making the shallow, semi-enclosed Baltic Sea warmer and less saline. These combined pressures affect not only fish biomass but also recruitment, population age and size structures, species interactions and the functioning of the wider food web. The Baltic crisis reflects the persistent failure to fully implement the CFP and the Baltic MAP, including their precautionary safeguards and the legal obligation to apply ecosystem-based fisheries management. Fishing opportunities for 2027 must therefore mark the first concrete step towards ambitious, timebound rebuilding trajectories that reduce fishing pressure and enable depleted populations to recover to healthy levels. These trajectories must include implementation of an ecosystem based approach by accounting for species interactions, food-web needs, habitat conditions, environmental and climatic change and scientific uncertainty, while reinforcing, not replacing the CFP’s objectives and the Baltic MAP’s existing safeguards in Art. 4.6. The Commission’s 2027 proposal is now before the Council. The October Council must turn the commitment to rebuild Baltic fish populations into measurable action by adopting fishing opportunities that deliver rapid and sustained recovery. Under no circumstances should the TACs adopted be higher than levels proposed by the European Commission. Fishing opportunities aligned with scientific evidence, legal safeguards and ecosystem needs are the basis for both a recovering Baltic Sea and viable fisheries in the long term. Read the full CCB's submission and recommendations here .