Baltic countries demand EU action against Russian fishing in the Baltic Sea

Concerns about sustainability

The biggest concern is that fish caught by Russian vessels could enter the EU market, which could jeopardise the EU’s sustainability efforts. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden have called on the European Commission to implement strict sustainability requirements to prevent this scenario. They believe that access to the EU market should be made conditional on compliance with these requirements.

The Baltic countries have asked the Commission to inform the EU Council before its October meeting of the measures planned to address this problem.

EU efforts to promote sustainable fishing

The European Commission is proactively addressing the environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea. It stresses the importance of sustainable fishing practices and the need for cooperation between Baltic Sea Member States. To ensure sustainable fishing opportunities, various measures have been implemented, including setting total allowable catches (TACs) for different fish species and introducing measures to rebuild stocks in poor condition.

In addition, the Commission is attaching importance to protecting the highly endangered harbour porpoises in the Baltic Sea. New measures to prevent these marine mammals from being caught in fishing include seasonal and year-round closures of certain areas and the mandatory use of acoustic deterrent devices.

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