The European Commission has taken strong action against Finland, deducting over 3,000 salmon from its 2025 fishing quota.
The decision follows unauthorised salmon fishing in the Baltic Sea last year, which was presented as scientific research but was a commercial operation in disguise.
Environmental NGOs WWF European Policy Office, Seas At Risk, and Oceana welcome the European Commission’s decision, which sends a clear signal that rule-breaking at sea will not be tolerated. With EU rules on fisheries often falling short when it comes to enforcement, it is encouraging to see European authorities take a stand to uphold EU fisheries measures based on scientific evidence.
Despite a clear recommendation from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to close targeted fishing for salmon due to collapsing stocks, Finland authorised 32 vessels to conduct a fishing operation under the guise of scientific research. Under EU rules, scientific fisheries must be limited to what is scientifically justified. In this case, the European Commission’s own scientific body found that the number of vessels and amount of catches resembled a commercial fishery. As a result, EU officials explicitly raised these concerns and requested Finland to postpone the activity pending further scientific advice. Yet, the Finnish government proceeded anyway.
Odran Corcoran, Marine Consultant for WWF European Policy Office, says: “EU laws only work if implemented and enforced. This decision comes at a crucial time, as policy-makers evaluate the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). By following the science and holding Finland accountable, the European Commission has sent a clear signal that EU fisheries rules should not be treated as optional. This case shows that the CFP can protect vulnerable stocks like the Baltic salmon – but only when it is fully applied and enforced.”
Bruno Nicostrate, Senior fisheries policy officer at Seas At Risk, says: “We support the Commission’s decision to penalise Finland for its unauthorised salmon fishing in the Baltic Sea, a clear violation of agreed-upon rules. Unfortunately, disregard for EU fisheries legislation is rampant in EU waters as the Common Fisheries Policy is too often ignored. We hope the Commission remains vigilant and continues to address future violations promptly. Let’s focus on applying the rules – not rewriting them.”
Javier López, Campaign Director for sustainable fishing at Oceana in Europe said: “When a Member State bends the rules, it puts the future of fish populations and the ocean at risk. The European Commission’s firm response to Finland sends a strong signal that EU rules are not optional, and that safeguarding our marine resources requires strict and equal enforcement by all. If we allow unauthorised fishing to go unchallenged, we risk losing not only Baltic salmon but other fish populations in Europe and, with them, the livelihoods of those that depend on these fisheries”.
The operation was later acknowledged by authorities from Åland, an autonomous region of Finland where much of the fishery takes place, as having a commercial purpose. One of the few people who called out the abuse, a veterinarian onboard, was dismissed from her post shortly after raising the alarm, but later rightfully reinstated after being vindicated.
