Commission proposes fishing opportunities for 2026 in the Baltic Sea

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

Today, the Commission adopted its proposal for the 2026 fishing opportunities for the Baltic Sea. It is based on a scientific assessment that indicates several fisheries are in a dire situation and puts forward total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for the ten stocks managed by the EU in the Baltic Sea.

The Commission proposes to increase fishing opportunities for salmon in the Gulf of Finland (+1%), and to maintain catches of central Baltic herring and sprat unchanged.

The Commission also proposes to decrease fishing of Bothnian herring (-62%), herring in the Gulf of Riga (-17%), plaice (-3%) and salmon in the main basin (-27%), as well as allocations for unavoidable by-catches of western Baltic cod (-84%), eastern Baltic cod (-63%) and western Baltic herring (-50%).

The proposed TACs are based on the best available scientific advice from the International Council on the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and follow the Baltic Sea multiannual management plan adopted in 2016 by the European Parliament and the Council.

Cod

For eastern Baltic cod, the Commission intends to keep a catch limit for unavoidable by-catches and all the accompanying measures which have already been in place for several years. Since the stock continues to be in a bad condition, the by-catch limit should be adjusted to the actual needs. Despite the measures taken since 2019, when scientists first warned about the poor status of cod, the situation has not improved.

The situation is similar for western Baltic cod. The Commission therefore proposes to adjust the by-catch TAC to actual needs, and to keep all the accompanying measures.

Herring

The stock size of western Baltic herring remains significantly below minimum levels. The Commission proposes removing the exemption for small-scale coastal fisheries and adjusting the TAC to unavoidable by-catches only.

The stock size of Bothnian herring continues to decrease and has reached one of its lowest levels on record. ICES recommends a decrease of catches and the Commission proposes a TAC level which should ensure with a high probability that the stock will not fall below the minimum biomass reference level. The Commission also proposes a three-month spawning closure in shallow coastal waters to support successful spawning and the eventual recovery of the stock.

The stock size of central Baltic herring has been above the minimum level for two years. ICES forecasts a very positive stock development due to high estimated recruitment but emphasises that the forecast is more uncertain than usual. The Commission therefore proposes a cautious approach and to maintain the current TAC. In addition, the Commission proposes a three-month spawning closure in shallow coastal waters, again to support successful spawning. Herring in the Gulf of Riga is healthy, and the Commission proposes to set the catch limits according to the maximum level advised by ICES.

Plaice

In line with scientific advice, the Commission proposes a slight decrease. New measures to reduce cod by-catches in the flatfish fisheries through alternative fishing gear entered into force earlier this year, which is expected to reduce the unwanted catches of cod in the flatfish fishery.

Sprat

The size of the sprat stock has decreased significantly due to persistently low reproduction rates. It is at its lowest level since 1990 and close to unhealthy levels. ICES estimates record high recruitment in 2024 but emphasises that the forecast is more uncertain than usual. The Commission therefore proposes a cautious approach by maintaining the TAC and the three-month spawning closure.

Salmon

The status of the different river salmon populations in the Baltic main basin varies considerably, with some remaining weak and others healthy. To achieve healthy levels, ICES advised four years ago the closure of all salmon fisheries in the main basin. At the same time, ICES assessed that it would be possible to maintain certain fisheries during the summer in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Åland Sea.

ICES maintained the principle of its advice for 2026 but decreased the related catch level further because of the probable overestimation of the most important salmon river population in combination with continued uncertainty about the reproduction rates. The Commission therefore proposes adjusting the fishing opportunities and the accompanying measures accordingly: delaying the start of the fishing seasons in some areas and banning recreational fishing for reared salmon, as the latter unavoidably also causes the death of wild salmon.

Next steps

Based on these proposals, EU countries will take a final decision to determine the maximum quantities of the most important commercial fish species that can be caught in the Baltic Sea basin. The Council will examine the Commission’s proposal in view of adopting the final TACs during its meeting on 27-28 October 2025.

Background

The fishing opportunities proposal is part of the European Union’s approach to adjust the levels of fishing to long-term sustainability targets, called maximum sustainable yield (MSY), as agreed by the European Parliament and the Council in the Common Fisheries Policy. The Commission’s proposal is also in line with the Multiannual Plan for the management of cod, herring and sprat in the Baltic Sea and with the policy intentions expressed in the Commission’s Communication.

The current situation is extremely challenging for fishers as formerly important commercial stocks (western and eastern cod; western, Bothnian and central herring; sprat; and many salmon populations) are subject to various pressures which have led to the degradation of the Baltic Sea’s biodiversity, such as high nutrient inputs and persistently high levels of contaminants. These stressors, in part, stem from failures to fully implement EU legislation. Furthermore, the scientific advice also recognises the impact of misreporting of fishing, which can contribute to overfishing, without being able to quantify it. To help fishers in the Baltic Sea, Member States and coastal regions can use the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) for temporary cessation and the European Social Fund Plus to implement measures for lifelong learning and skills development.

The Baltic Sea is the most polluted sea in Europe. It has been affected by biodiversity loss, climate change, eutrophication, overfishing, and elevated levels of certain contaminants. Concerned about this dire situation, the European Commission has been leading common efforts to improve the health of the Baltic Sea’s ecosystem by organising twoeditions of the Our Baltic conference in 2020 and 2023. These high-level events brought together Ministers for Fisheries, Agriculture and Environment from the eight EU countries surrounding the Baltic Sea (Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland and Sweden). A third edition will be organised on 30 September 2025 in Stockholm, Sweden.

For more information

Proposal fishing opportunities Baltic Sea 2026

Questions & Answers on Fishing Opportunities in the Baltic Sea in 2026

Table: Overview of TAC changes 2025-2026 (figures in tones except for salmon, which is in number of pieces)