While the agreement offers limited relief for some fisheries through increased opportunities for sprat and central Baltic herring, Europêche underlines that the overall situation in the Baltic remains extremely difficult for fishing communities. Fishers have already implemented substantial reductions and restrictive measures to allow the recovery of fish stocks, yet their livelihoods are increasingly threatened by external pressures. 

Kenn Skau Fischer, Europêche, stated: “We welcome the Council’s efforts to strike a better balance between environmental sustainability and the socioeconomic survival of Baltic fishers. This outcome brings some breathing space for many Baltic fleets that are currently struggling to survive. Fishers have already borne the brunt of drastic reductions and closures, yet the ecosystem remains in a fragile state due to factors far beyond fisheries management. It is time for the EU to act decisively against all major stressors in the Baltic Sea — including nutrient pollution, chemical contaminants, climate change and predator impacts — while ensuring inclusive governance that fully involves the fisheries sector.”

The fishing sector has shown responsibility and resilience under the Common Fisheries Policy, implementing unprecedented reductions to aid stock recovery. However, without addressing the broader environmental and predator pressures undermining these efforts, such sacrifices risk being in vain. Europêche therefore reiterates its call on the EU to adopt effective management measures for seals and cormorants, as requested by several Member States, and to establish socio-economic mitigation mechanisms for affected fishing communities — including financial support, flexible temporary cessation schemes, compensation systems and transition assistance.

Fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2026 – table

Press contact:

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche +32 489 26 81 07 daniel.voces@europeche.org

EP Press Release – Baltic Fishing OPPs

As one of Estonia’s largest fisheries organizations, the Estonian LDFA represents a diverse range of fishing interests and companies. Its primary operations span multiple fisheries, focusing on species such as northern shrimp, Atlantic cod and Greenland halibut. The association’s main fishing grounds lie in international waters governed by the North Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) and the Northeast Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), including areas in the Barents Sea and near Greenland. The association is dedicated to advancing sustainable fishing practices through innovation, enhancing safety at sea, improving traceability, and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Mati Sarevet, Director of the Estonian Long Distance Fisheries Association, expressed enthusiasm about joining Europêche: “We are excited to work alongside our European counterparts to promote sustainable fishing and secure the resilience of our industry. Europêche membership strengthens our ability to advocate for Estonian fishers and supports sustainable development across Europe. In the face of common challenges, cooperation is essential to protect EU fishing rights and ensure fair, balanced resource management in the international waters of the North-East Atlantic.”

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche, welcomed the association: “The Estonian Long Distance Fisheries Association is a dynamic and valuable part of Estonia’s fishing sector. We are delighted to have them join the Europêche family. Their expertise, particularly in long-distance fisheries in North Atlantic waters, will be a significant asset as we continue to champion the interests of European fisheries at both the EU and international levels.”

Press Contact: 

Anne-France Mattlet, Deputy Managing Director of Europêche | Email: anne-france.mattlet@europeche.org | Phone: +33 678 11 63 01

Estonian LDFA email: reyktal@reyktal.ee Phone: (+372) 5138366

EP Press Release – Estonian LDF joins Europêche

In a letter sent today by all EU fishing companies active in the cod fishery in the Barents Sea represented by Europêche and ENAFA, EU fishermen denounced once again the decision taken by Norway to unlawfully appropriate the long-held EU cod quota in Svalbard. Due to the disagreement between the two parties, the EU had to provisionally allocate a partial cod quota to European vessels for 2022. This reduced quota of 4,500 tons will expire at the end of March and a new quota allocation has to be issued. Given the lack of real progress in the bilateral negotiations, the sector calls on von der Leyen to send a clear sign of determination and decide for a unilateral allocation of the full amount that historically corresponds to the EU fleet (19,636 tons), plus 4,964 tons of cod Norway owes from 2021.

For 14 months the EU has been trying to reverse a crisis unilaterally opened by Norway back in December 2020. According to the sector, Norway’s attitude illicitly grabbing EU quota shows not only flagrant disdain for international law but also a blatant disrespect for the EU as a partner and an ally.

Diek Parlevliet, President of ENAFA, declared: “We fail to understand why Norway can take such an action to attack the rights of the EU in such a blatant manner. We call on our political leadership to send an effective signal of determination to the Norwegian authorities. For that purpose, the EU must fully allocate the quota rights of cod in the Barents Sea. This amount to 24,600 tons, including the 4,964 tons withheld from the EU fleet in 2021. This EU decision should come with the corresponding mechanisms that will ensure that this quota can be properly handled until the situation with Norway is resolved.”

The sector reminds that Norway exports to the EU over 1.3 billion Euro annually in fish products, mostly tariff free, and they have continued to do so. The quantity of quota withheld from the EU only represents 1% of the total Barents Sea cod TAC, and 0.5% of the quota available to Norway, but it amounts to 25% of the EU quota. Also relevant is to point out that half of the withheld quota would automatically be transferred to the Russian Federation as per their bilateral agreements. This was the case in 2021 and it could be the case in 2022 if the situation persists.

Javier Garat, President of Europêche, concluded: “The action of Norway is not innocent and clearly represents a violation of International Law. It also poses intriguing questions against the background of the Russian aggression against Ukraine since, only a few days ago, the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries stated that Norway is committed to continue its full collaboration with Russia in fisheries management and trade. This means that Russian cod landed, processed and sold in Norway can continue to be exported as Norwegian product to the EU. While the US and the UK are respectively closing and restricting its market to Russian seafood products, Norway seems to go in the opposite direction.”

The sector argues that if no seafood related trade actions against Norway is adopted by the EU, the only alternative is to decide for a unilateral allocation of the full amount that the Treaty of Paris and the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement determine for the EU fleet. The fleet calls upon EU decision-makers to take this decision in the Fisheries Council of 21-22 March 2022.

Press contacts:

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche: +32 2 230 48 48  daniel.voces@europeche.org

EP and ENAFA Press Release – Quota Allocation

The Council of Ministers agreed to cut by half the Total Allowable Catches (TAC) for herring in the Western part of the Baltic Sea and can only be caught now as by-catch. In the Central Baltic, the TAC was cut by 45%. Given the lack of progress in cod stocks, the Council has maintained a TAC only for by-catches, slashing by 88% the quota for Western cod. The catch limits for Salmon in the Main Basin have been reduced by 32%, although the TAC for salmon stocks in the Gulf of Finland saw a slight increase.

Despite the scientific advice recommending a quota increase for plaice and sprat, the European Commission proposed to maintain the TAC level unchanged. Ministers deviated from this approach and decided to increase the quota by 25% and 13% respectively. Peter Breckling, Deutscher Fischerei Verband (DFV), declared: “We welcome this Council’s decision which balances the socio-economic needs of our fishermen with the long-term sustainability of these fish stocks. More selective trawl gears are available which can certainly mitigate the impact on other species such as cod or herring. Plaice and sprat  are now vital for the survivability of our fishing companies”.

Europêche stresses that due to the significant reduction of the main target species Western cod and Western herring quota for several years, fishing companies and local associations face a very critical situation. Mr Breckling declared: “Without enough fish, the infrastructure of commercial fisheries cannot keep working on a viable economic level. Two local cooperatives in Germany already closed down. It is likely that others will follow and severe structural changes may occur. This should also be subject to responsible management”.

Europêche regrets, however, the misinformation campaigns on the state of the cod stock, claiming that this iconic species could be in danger of biological extinction in the Baltic Sea. What happens in reality is that in order to reach Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) levels, a targeted fishery is not possible, as in this case, to get the fish stock to healthy levels. Europêche argues that this has nothing to do with biological extinction. Moreover, before a marine fish stock can be biologically extinct, the fishing companies would go bankrupt.

Mr Breckling concluded: “After a significant fleet capacity reduction in all Baltic states and a fishery in line with scientific advice, it is really strange to blame ‘overfishing’ as the main driver for the present situation. At present, natural cod mortality is 3 to 4 times higher than fisheries mortality, meaning that the cod stock deterioration is largely driven by poor oxygen conditions, migration of its fish prey and high levels of parasite infestations caused by uncontrolled growing populations of seals. This also explains why despite the closure of Eastern Baltic cod in 2019 the stock did not react up till now. So there must be other reasons for reducing the productivity of the ecosystem at the moment which should be addressed, yet fishermen always pay the price”.

Press contacts: 

Daniel Voces, Managing Director of Europêche: +32 2 230 48 48 daniel.voces@europeche.org

EP Press Release – Baltic Fishing Opportunities

Picture: © Chris Gomersall 2020 vision

According the Europêche, the Norwegian government, in an opportunistic manner, is misusing the Brexit aftermath to unlawfully appropriate long-held EU fishing quota, first of cod and now of mackerel. Such a reckless and irresponsible behavior has spurred other countries, such as Faroe, to follow the same steps and unilaterally increase their quota share of mackerel.

Europêche argues that this attitude shows not only flagrant disdain for international law but also a blatant disrespect for the EU as a partner and an ally. Furthermore, considering the mackerel situation, the unilateral quota increases will certainly endanger the sustainability of the stock in the next couple of years.

Daniel Voces, managing director of Europêche, declared: “This unacceptable and disloyal behavior shows no respect for the agreed and well-established EU fishing rights in the Atlantic. This also sets a dangerous precedent of an important EU partner, such as Norway, unliterally moving away from agreements for short term economic gain. Unless a strong signal is sent from the EU to these countries, nothing will stop them from grabbing more and more EU quota of these and other fish species. EU citizens must realise that the legality and sustainability of the fish coming from this country are now put into question. EU fishermen call consumers, retailers and food suppliers to halt seafood purchases for the survivability of the EU fishing industry and fish stocks”. 

In addition, the sector reiterates the call to EU institutions to close the single market to these products and remove trade preferences granted to Norwegian fishery products, especially for cod and mackerel. Europêche argues that this would not only be a strong retaliation measure but an important trade aspect to protect EU companies. According to the fishing industry, there is plenty of EU-produced mackerel quota so no shortage in raw material occurs and therefore there is absolutely no need for extra supply to the European market.

Mr Voces concluded: “It would be completely scandalous and outrageous to continue granting preferential market access to seafood products originating from a country that has illegally appropriated EU-quota and, on top of that, put at risk the sustainability of an entire fish species”.

Press contacts:

Rosalie Tukker, Policy Advisor of Europêche: +32 2 230 48 48  rosalie.tukker@europeche.org

EP Press Release – EU fishermen call consumers to boycott seafood products from Norway

The Council of the EU will shortly approve a regulation setting autonomous tariff quotas (ATQs) for certain fishery products for the years 2021-2023. The ATQ regulation covers species such as tuna, Alaska pollack, cod, flatfish or shrimp for which a relatively high volume can be imported from non-EU countries at a reduced or zero-duty tariff. The fishing industry represented by Europêche and EAPO believe that ATQs are being used in many cases with the sole purpose of getting access to cheap and low-standard fish from foreign fleets which in turn puts pressure on EU producers’ prices and employment. Both organisations call on the EU Council of Ministers to reduce the amount of imported duty-free fish to at least levels set in the European Commission’s proposal¹.

Every two or three years, the EU revise the volume of fish for which custom duties are suspended or reduced, taking into consideration the utilisation rate, the need for a level playing field between EU and non-EU producers, value added and other trade preferences. Following a rather balanced proposal from the Commission, the Council of the EU is significantly increasing tariff quotas and even introducing new species that can benefit from tax derogations. This has not come as a surprise to the fishing industry since, from the beginning, there has been a constant trend to increase the amount of tons exempted from import duties in the EU. While in 1992, only 6 species representing 43,000 tons were granted reduced import duties, the EU will grant zero duty access to more than 20 species representing 810,000 tons, compared to 750,000 tons in the previous regulation.

The EU catching sector is not opposed to a rational tariff free setting for certain fishery products that are not sufficiently produced in the EU. However, in light of the negative socio-economic consequences of ATQs for the EU fishing industry, this instrument cannot be intended to foment imports from non-sustainable sources nor to put pressure on EU producers’ prices.

Javier Garat, President of Europêche, declared: “The same story repeats revision after revision. The Council only listens to some EU processing companies that want to get access to cheap fish from non-EU countries regardless of the origin or way of production. The increases in volume of duty-free fish works to the detriment of EU producers who have to comply with the highest standards of sustainability. Why demanding so much to our fishermen when the EU opens a back door for non-EU products without even questioning their sustainability? Only yesterday, the Council committed to ensuring a fair income and strong support for primary producers under the farm to fork strategy. The new ATQ Regulation is therefore a step in the wrong direction. The EU should work towards achieving a true level playing field in practice, and not just on paper, between EU produced and third country produced seafood.

Mr Pim Visser, President of EAPO, declared: “Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, fishermen are facing extremely low prices and the quantities of unsold catches for certain species is rising. Already 60% of the fish consumed in the EU comes from outside our borders. Subsidising additional fish imports from non-EU countries would not only increase Union market’s dependence on fish imports but also put further pressure on prices and leave our companies out of business. Fishers feel abandoned by an EU that puts so much emphasis on the sustainability of EU products but so little on imported fish.”  

[1] Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION opening and providing for the management of autonomous Union tariff quotas for certain fishery products for the 2021-2023 period COM(2020) 322 final

Press contacts:

Daniel Voces de Onaíndi, Managing Director of Europêche: +32 2 230 48 48 daniel.voces@europeche.org

Emiel Brouckaert, Secretary General of EAPO: +32 59 43 20 05  info@eapo.com

EP and EAPO Press Release – ATQs