Threats to the marine environment are multiple and growing and the Baltic Sea is no stranger to them. Numerous human activities have put its ecosystems under severe pressure and it has become one of the most polluted seas in the world. In order to safeguard species and habitats, and to recover the healthy status of the sea, one of the most widely recognized and effective … Read more
Recent research on the Baltic Sea salmon demonstrates perfectly why we need to consider entire ecosystems when we develop fisheries management plans, like the coming multiannual plan for Baltic cod, sprat and herring. This study shows how the survival of salmon might be affected by the poor status of the cod stock in the Baltic … Read more
Lately, I have been involved in discussions on the Commission’s proposal for a multi-annual management plan for cod, sprat and herring, and the fisheries exploiting those stocks in the Baltic Sea. This is the first plan of its kind developed under the renewed Common Fisheries Policy. Eagerly awaited by stakeholders and managers, the plan is … Read more
Yesterday, the European Commission finally published its management plan proposal for cod, sprat and herring which has been anticipated for many years. Oceana welcomes this step, as it is the first time ever that the EU has addressed fisheries management with an attempt at understanding how ecosystems function; from prey to predators instead of single-species … Read more
In October, the Total Allowable Catches (TAC) are to be decided by the fisheries Ministers. Oceana is glad to see that the Commission proposal is consistent with the aim of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy, to restore fish stocks to levels capable of producing long-term sustainable catches, for the majority of the stocks included in … Read more
Today, the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) delivered its advice for 2015 catches in the Baltic Sea, including the largest cuts in total allowable catches for cod in years. This move comes after ICES scientists reported a particularly worrying development for eastern Baltic cod: While over the past few years, the … Read more
Today, the European Fisheries Council opted to listen to the fishing industry over scientific advice at the expense of Baltic Sea salmon and cod. Even though scientific data is clear that larger cuts in allowable catches are needed to transition to Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) by 2015 and reach sustainable levels of fishing, the 2014 … Read more
As December quickly approaches, every morning when I head into the Baltic office, I pass a new Christmas tree on display in a shop window or welcoming guests just outside the door of a local bar. After passing a particularly tall pine this morning, I thought about how interesting it is that a tree’s age … Read more
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We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.
Oceana in Europe gratefully acknowledges EU funding support.
