Joint NGO recommendations on Baltic Sea fishing opportunities for 2025

CCB • June 19, 2024

On Friday, 31 May, the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) published its scientific advice on how much fish can be caught in the Baltic Sea next year. In response, environmental NGOs from around the Baltic Sea region urge the European Commission to propose, and fisheries ministers to adopt fishing opportunities at levels well below the ICES headline advice to safeguard ecosystem needs and dynamics and allow for the recovery of fish populations.

The decline of fish populations in the Baltic Sea ecosystem has by now been extensively documented and analysed. The decline has been ongoing for decades but has escalated in recent years with some fish populations collapsing and the effects of the climate crisis manifesting itself. So far any policy interventions have not been ambitious enough to reverse or even just halt the negative trends. The third HELCOM Holistic Assessment of the State of the Baltic Sea (HOLAS 3) that came out last December, concludes that the ecosystem is in extreme distress and that species extraction is one of the main threats to Baltic Sea biodiversity. This year the ICES assessment shows yet again that populations of commercially harvested stocks are not in a healthy state: Both cod populations remain in a state of collapse, there is high uncertainty on the status of the herring populations, salmon is in decline and sprat has had very low recruitment for the fourth year in a row. Of the fish populations with catch advice, only the plaice spawning stock biomass is high, however alarming signals indicate a high number of small and skinny fish, leading to high levels of discards.


Overall, we urge the European Commission to propose, and fisheries ministers to adopt fishing opportunities at levels well below the ICES headline advice (and below the FMSY point value where available) to safeguard ecosystem needs and dynamics and allow for the recovery of fish populations.


Concretely this means the following:


For TAC-setting for 2025


1. Set catch limits well below the best available scientific advice provided by ICES, in order to
effectively and rapidly rebuild all fish populations and ensure long-term population and
ecosystem health and productivity, namely:
a) at a fishing mortality level below the FMSY point value for stocks for which MSY reference
points are available.
b) at a fishing mortality level below ICES headline advice for stocks with advice based on
the ICES precautionary approach for data-limited stocks.


2. In the absence of concrete catch scenarios in the ICES advice that are explicitly geared
towards fully incorporating ecosystem needs and delivering a rapid stock recovery. We
recommend to incorporate an additional level of precaution into TAC-setting, by setting
all TACs well below the respective ICES headline advice. This is important to accommodate
for stock-specific uncertainties, low recruitment trends, inter-species dynamics and mixed
fisheries interactions as well as other pressures on the Baltic Sea ecosystem (pollution,
eutrophication, climate change etc.). This could be done by deducting a precautionary
safeguard amount or percentage from the headline advice catch level, the size of which
would depend on population status.


3. Fully utilise the precautionary approach by closing areas with high mixing where we do
not have a robust understanding of the impact on individual (sub-)populations and/or by
substantially reducing quotas to safeguard depleted and vulnerable populations or sub populations and the risk of genetic depletion;


4. Consider the widely recognised lack of implementation of the Landing Obligation (LO)4 by
setting TACs sufficiently below ICES catch advice to ensure illegal, unreported discarding
does not lead to actual catches exceeding ICES catch advice;


5. Provide transparent calculations for TACs based on the ICES advice on fishing opportunities.


With regards to fisheries management beyond TAC-setting


6. Underpin sustainable TAC-setting by robust controls and full catch documentation using
remote electronic monitoring (REM; supported by observer coverage as appropriate) for all
vessels above 12 m and for medium and high-risk vessels below 12 m.


7. Develop and implement effective rebuilding plans (reflecting the findings of ICES
WKREBUILD7) for all populations below MSY B
trigger, geared towards rapid rebuilding above
B
MSY, including strong safeguards to prevent future population declines or stagnation below
MSY B
trigger, and subject to close monitoring and enforcement using REM with cameras.


8. Prioritise and apply environmental and social criteria for national allocation of fishing
opportunities, for example through incentivising use of selective fishing gear and low
impact fishing practices. The European Commission should provide a precise definition
of low-impact fishing, monitor compliance with Article 17 of the CFP Basic Regulation, and
require the Member States to make their allocation criteria public.


9. Agree on ecosystem-based fisheries management objectives to inform the ICES advice
request process8. International commitments on biodiversity conservation, such as Global
Biodiversity Framework Directive, Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) of HELCOM Commission as
well as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) should provide a basis for these
ecological objectives and be considered alongside the rules and objectives of the CFP.


10. Change the requests for ICES advice on fishing opportunities to
a) aim for rapid recovery of depleted or at-risk stocks,
b) fully reflect ecosystem dynamics and needs, also reflecting Good Environmental Status
(GES) requirements under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), and
multispecies considerations, and
c) provide sufficiently precautionary alternative catch options where a full incorporation of
these aspects is not yet possible, to minimise risks to stocks and the overall ecosystem.


11. Improve transparency by making publicly available any proposals subsequent to the official
Commission proposal, including Commission non-papers as well as Council Working Party,
AGRIFISH Council, and BALTFISH documents and minutes.


Read the full recommendations here.

By CCB October 3, 2025
3 October 2025 - Coalition Clean Baltic, together with its Member Organization BUND - Friends of the Earth Germany and the citizens’ initiative “ Lebensraum Vorpommern ”, have launched a petition to stop new oil and gas drilling projects in the Baltic Sea . The petition comes in response to plans to exploit a deposit just 6 km offshore Świnoujście , Poland, in the transboundary waters of the Oder Estuary and Pomeranian Bay. The planned site lies at the heart of NATURA 2000 protected areas , which are vital for biodiversity, climate action, and local communities. Oil and gas extraction in the Baltic Sea poses severe threats to its fragile ecosystems. Industrial activities such as drilling, pipeline construction, and ship traffic risk polluting the water with chemicals, oil leaks, and toxic waste. Underwater noise from pile driving and increased traffic would further degrade marine habitats. These pressures add to the already critical challenges faced by the Baltic Sea, including biodiversity loss, eutrophication, and the accelerating impacts of climate change. The consequences extend far beyond nature. Local communities rely on a clean and healthy Baltic for tourism, fishing, and quality of life. Expanding fossil fuel infrastructure would also undermine Europe’s climate commitments and lock in carbon emissions for decades to come. The petition calls on the Ministry of Climate and Environment of Poland, the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), the European Commission, and the Secretariat of the Espoo Convention to : Stop the plans for oil and gas extraction in the Oder Estuary and the Pomeranian Bay; Ban any new oil and gas extraction across the Baltic Sea; Ensure strong cross-border cooperation and communication amongst all involved states. The petition is open through the WeMove Europe´s platform and can be signed here .
By CCB October 1, 2025
Job Title: Coalition Campaign Manager - Common Fisheries Policy Position type : Full-time consultancy contract. Open to part-time arrangements initially if needed. Contract duration: Short-term contract until end of March 2026, with possibility of extension subject to funding availability Reports to: Steering Committee Location : Flexible(remote/home office) with regular travel. Working in Brussels is of advantage. Starting date : ASAP In close cooperation with the Steering Group of the coalition, lead, plan, coordinate, and support the campaign of an NGO network working together towards the implementation of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the evaluation thereof. The campaign manager's responsibility is to develop and ensure the successful and timely delivery of political advocacy and public engagement activities of the campaign, both at EU and Member State level. Job description Strategy & Planning Develop and implement short-, and long-term campaign strategies aligned with coalition objectives, in close cooperation with the Steering Group. Set clear goals, timelines, and performance indicators for the campaign and ensure timely delivery thereof. Analyse policy development, political climate, media and public opinion, and stakeholder landscapes to inform tactics. Campaign Delivery Manage day-to-day execution of the campaign activities at Brussels and Member State level. Coordinate coalition partners and ensure communication between Steering Group and coalition members, as well as relevant groups/coalitions/experts and other stakeholders outside the coalition. Advise coalition members on strategic delivery of advocacy activities at all levels, including Member State level. Join Steering Group meetings in an advisory capacity. Report back to the Steering Group on the delivery of the campaign's activities, meeting of targets and milestones, and report back on activities, budget and impact. Advocacy & Stakeholder Engagement Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, key stakeholders, and allies to support campaign aims. Analyse opportunities of engagement, advise on policy language. Organise/coordinate/prepare and support relevant activities, including events, briefings, and advocacy activities in close cooperation with coalition members. Ensure relevant knowledge management and information flow within the coalition and across partner organisations. Liaise with communication experts on message framing, strategy and timelines. Management Support CCB administrative and finance staff managing grants to coalition partners. Ensure coalition partners receive information and materials that enable them to effectively contribute to achieving campaign goals (political information, policy briefings, templates, policy language, opportunity analyses). Support fundraising efforts as needed/requested by the Steering Group. Lead on funders narrative reporting. Qualifications & Skills required The consultant must be legally authorised to provide services and work as a consultant within the EU, based in an EU Member State. Fisheries and ocean expertise (preferred), or other environmental background. Degree (or equivalent experience) in communications/campaign management, political science, resource management, fisheries, or related field. Proven track record in designing and delivering successful advocacy or public campaigns at EU or Member State levels involving a larger coalition. Strong understanding of political processes at EU level and Member State levels, media landscapes, and public engagement. Excellent project management and organisational skills. Skilled communicator and coordinator, able to craft persuasive messages and engage a larger network into a common goal within tight deadlines. Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. Fluency in English is required; additional EU languages are a plus. Application Should you be interested in applying for this assignment, please send your CV (max. 2 pages) together with a personal letter (max. 1 page) before 9 October 2025 , COB, to secretariat@ccb.se Please include your consultancy rate in your application inclusive VAT (if applicable). Applications should be submitted in English. Incomplete applications (e.g. lacking either CV or personal letter) will not be considered . Any inquiries related to this assignment should be forwarded to the above email or to CCB Executive Secretary Mikhail Durkin at mikhail.durkin@ccb.se and +46 739 770 793. In the application and hiring process, CCB will not discriminate against any individual based on race, colour, sex, language, religion, national or social origin, property, disability, age, family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, economic and social situation. .