Fishermen fear for their existence: EU is discussing fishing stops in the Baltic Sea

Fishermen fear for their existence: EU is discussing fishing stops in the Baltic Sea

The fishermen on the Baltic Sea are facing a crisis situation. Falling catch quotas and strained stocks mean that many family businesses fear for their existence. The EU Council of Ministers in Luxembourg is currently discussing new regulations for fishing next year. A possible stop to fishing for cod and herring is also being discussed, which could have catastrophic consequences for fishermen. How NDR reports, the fishermen in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are under great pressure due to these uncertainties.

“A complete cessation of herring fishing would threaten our existence,” says Holger Müller, a fourth-generation fisherman who markets herring locally. German fishermen are currently only allowed to catch 435 tons of herring in the western Baltic Sea. The problem: Given the declining stocks, this amount is not enough to keep the fishermen afloat. After all, trawling for herring has been banned for years, but that doesn't help to improve the situation.

The condition of the stocks

The alarming declines in fish stocks are partly due to climatic changes. Herring spawns too early, which results in high mortality among the larvae. The cod suffers from a lack of oxygen and higher water temperatures, which also put it in distress. Despite multiple catch restrictions, experts do not see the situation improving.

“Fish stocks in the Baltic Sea are in danger due to overfishing and the destruction of spawning areas,” explains Rainer Froese from the Geomar Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research. He advocates a ban on fishing for cod and herring for at least a year. While other fisheries could continue to catch more stable species such as plaice and flatfish, such a stop would be a challenge for many fishermen. As a solution, Froese suggests that fishermen should be given compensation during this time.

Political positions and proposals

Christopher Zimmermann, from the Thünen Institute, also warns against overturning existing exemptions that had allowed fishermen in the western Baltic Sea to continue fishing even under the current conditions. In its current proposal for 2026 fishing quotas, the EU Commission proposes drastic cuts, which the fishing community perceives as a threat. The proposed cuts include some stocks to be reduced by up to 84 percent. Even stocks in the Gulf of Riga are expected to fall by 17 percent europa.eu reports.

Agriculture Minister Till Backhaus emphasizes that special regulations for coastal fishing are necessary to ensure their continued existence. Given the fact that half of the fishing ports in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are already without fishermen, the pressure on politicians is enormous. After all, only 147 fishermen work as their main job and 132 as a part-time fisherman in the region, which corresponds to a decline of around two thirds since 2000.

Outlook for the future

The consumer advice center has now updated the “Good Fish” list to help consumers identify sustainable goods. The question remains: How will the EU Council of Ministers decide? The answer is expected on Tuesday, and fishermen in the area hope their concerns will be heard as they continue to fight for their livelihoods.

In the long term, it will be important to bring both the environment and fisheries into a sustainable balance to ensure the continued existence of both. If immediate action is not taken, there could be serious problems not only for fishermen, but also for the Baltic Sea ecosystems.