The European Commission is set to ban directed herring fishing in Finland due to declining Baltic herring stocks.
The Commission's proposal, which shocked the Finnish fishing industry, grants only a limited quota for Baltic herring as by-catches alongside sprat fishing.
This drastic move is in contrast to the recommendations of scientists from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), who suggested a 20-40 percent quota reduction.
Finnish fishermen, deeply concerned, argued that these proposals could eliminate herring from Finnish tables.
In 2022, Finland caught 68 million kilograms of herring, valued at 15.5 million euros. The Federation of Finnish Fisheries Associations criticised the Commission's proposal as excessive and based on outdated data.
The impact extends to salmon fishing, with restrictions proposed for the Gulf of Bothnia and a 15 percent quota cut. However, salmon fishing in the Gulf of Finland would continue with a potential increase in the quota.
These measures pose a significant challenge for professional fishermen, potentially affecting various species they depend on.
Ministry opposed
Finland's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry opposes the Commission's proposal, citing its disproportionate impact on the fishing industry, particularly for Baltic herring and salmon, and the potential loss of jobs.
Backing up the Finnish fishing sector, Risto Lampinen, Head of the Fisheries Industry Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, said that the fishing ban would be a huge blow to commercial fishing in marine areas.
"Baltic herring is by far the most important of our fish species commercially. For salmon, too, the proposal would be disastrous, as salmon is a very important part of the coastal fishery for many fishermen. The socio-economic impact would be very high and a significant number of jobs would be at risk," Lampinen told Yle.
Finland is currently reviewing the proposal and aims to finalise its position promptly for parliamentary consideration. The international Baltic Sea fisheries body, Baltfish, will also convene to gauge other Member States' opinions on the proposal.
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