EU Commission sets out fish quota proposals for 2027 in Baltic Sea

The EU Commission has adopted its proposal for 2027 fishing opportunities for the Baltic Sea, with total allowable catches and quotas for the Sea’s ten EU-managed fish stocks.

The ten EU-managed fish stocks in the Baltic Sea are Bothnian herring, central Baltic herring, Gulf of Riga herring, sprat, plaice, Main Basin salmon, Gulf of Finland salmon, western Baltic cod, eastern Baltic cod, and western Baltic herring. 

The Commission says its proposals respond to scientific assessments highlighting the critical state of several fisheries and allows for continuing the rebuilding trajectories for relevant stocks.

The EU executive proposes to increase fishing opportunities for Bothnian herring (+3%), central Baltic herring (+49%), Gulf of Riga herring (+11%) and sprat (+44%). Catches of plaice, salmon in the Main basin and in the Gulf of Finland would remain unchanged compared to this year. In addition, based on the latest reporting by Member States, the Commission proposes to reduce the allocations of unavoidable by-catches – fish unintentionally caught by fishers – of western Baltic cod (-88%), eastern Baltic cod (-51%) and western Baltic herring (-45%).

Cod: the Commission proposes to keep a catch limit for unavoidable by-catches and all the accompanying measures in place already for several years. However, since the stock continues to be in bad condition, the by-catch limit should be adjusted, based on the number of by-catches reported by each Member State in 2025. The situation is similar for western Baltic cod, which the Commission wants to adjust the by-catch TAC to address a deteriorated condition of the stock, and to keep all the accompanying measures.

Herring: with stock size of western Baltic herring significantly below minimum levels, the Commission proposes to remove the exemption for small-scale coastal fisheries and adjusting the TAC to unavoidable by-catches only.

The stock size of Bothnian herring is larger than previously estimated but still below sustainable levels. With the maximum catch levels contained in the ICES advice, the stock size would continue to decrease. In order to continue the rebuilding trajectory, the Commission proposes a TAC level which keeps the fishing mortality rate stable and increases the stock size. The Commission also proposes to keep the three-month spawning closure – restricting fishing during reproduction periods – in shallow coastal waters.

The stock size of central Baltic herring has increased but remains below sustainable levels. ICES forecasts a positive stock development due to high estimated recruitment. In order to continue the rebuilding trajectory, the Commission proposes a cautious approach and to set the TAC at the level which keeps the fishing mortality rate stable. In addition, the Commission proposes to keep the three-month spawning closure in shallow coastal waters.

Herring in the Gulf of Riga is healthy, and the Commission proposes to set the catch limits according to the maximum advised by ICES.

Plaice: scientific advice recommends a slight increase, but the Commission proposes to keep the TAC unchanged due to the bad condition of individual fish. In addition, new measures for flatfish fisheries, including plaice, entered into force last year. It says the measures will help improve the sustainability of flatfish fishing, notably by reducing unwanted cod by-catches – which still occur frequently.

Sprat: the size of the sprat stock has increased significantly due to recent very high reproduction rates, with ICES estimating the stock will continue to increase. The Commission proposes setting the TAC at the advised maximum and to discontinue the three-month spawning closure.

Salmon: as ICES did not publish new advice for 2027, the Commission proposes to maintain the (by-catch) TAC levels and the accompanying conditions for the two salmon TACs, with the exception of recreational fishing on reared salmon which should stop.

Based on these proposals, EU countries will take a final decision to determine the maximum quantities of the most important commercial fish species that can be caught in the Baltic Sea. The EU Council will look to reach a political agreement at its 26-27 October meeting, with formal adoption following later in November.

Questions and answers

Proposal fishing opportunities Baltic Sea 2027

Table: Overview of TAC changes 2026-2027 (figures in tones except for salmon, which is in number of pieces)