The EU Council reaches an agreement on fishing in the Baltic Sea

Brussels – Herring, cod, plaice, whiting, sprat, and salmon: the European Union’s Agriculture and Fisheries Council today (26 October) reached a political agreement on fishing in the Baltic Sea for 2027, setting catch limits for the main fish stocks. The agreement aims to support the recovery of fish stocks and protect the marine environment, while ensuring a sustainable future for the fishing sector and the coastal communities that depend on it. 

The total allowable catches (TACs) agreed for 2027 – that is, the maximum quantities of fish that may be caught – take into account the scientific advice of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea

(ICES) – an intergovernmental organisation that promotes and coordinates marine research in oceanography – as well as environmental and socio-economic considerations. Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon, welcomed the agreement, stating that today’s deal “builds on our concerted efforts over recent years, which are beginning to bear fruit.” Furthermore, according to the Minister, “by combining the recovery of fish stocks and the protection of marine ecosystems with the long-term sustainability of our fishing sector, we aim to ensure healthy seas and thriving fishing communities for future generations.” The Council will formally adopt the decision at a forthcoming meeting, once the text has been translated into all EU languages.