Platforma LIFE

What’s in a Name? The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same.

By Brian O’Riordan, LIFE Policy Adviser 

 

What’s in a name? In the recently announced EU budget for the next period – the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2028 to 2034 – fisheries funding under the EMFAF has been subsumed into the National and Regional Partnership Fund (NRPF) worth an eyewatering Euros 865 billion. Within the NRPF, 2 billion Euros has been “ringfenced (as a minimum) for fisheries”, says Commission President, von der Leyen. In addition to the 2 billion, fisheries interests will be able to apply for sectoral support (including for modernisation, decarbonisation, fleet renewal, fish marketing, fisheries regeneration) under the NRPF. 

The more things change, the more they remain the same, and it is still far from clear how this huge readjustment could help small-scale fisheries (SSF). In this piece, we take a preliminary look at these new arrangements, and what needs to be done for them to make the difference needed to bring SSF back from the brink, and to support the sector into the future so that it can realise its full potential in the fight to restore Europe’s declining seas.

As for the Common Fisheries Policy, so for the funding of fisheries: small-scale fisheries are a forgotten fleet, a policy outlier – and have been for the past 4 decades. Will the new policies in the pipeline – the Ocean Act and the National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPP) for sectoral support – change the status quo? Both the Ocean Pact (the precursor of the Ocean Act) and the EC proposal for sectoral support for the next period, make small-scale fisheries a priority. This is to be welcomed. 

For LIFE, bringing small-scale fisheries back to the centre of fisheries policies requires making fishing fair through a differentiated approach. Such an approach must take into account the special and different characteristics of the small-scale fleet – that set it apart socially, economically and environmentally, and which could make it a game changer for Europe’s troubled seas. To achieve this, LIFE is calling on the Commission and European decision takers to “Make Fishing Fair”. In this endeavour, sectorial support is key to making fishing fair, alongside fair access to resources and fair access to markets. 

LIFE contends that fair access to sectoral support for all fleet segments should be based on economic, social and environmental considerations (i.e. giving priority those who fish in the most sustainable way and who provide the greatest benefits to society). In a nutshell, fuel subsidies and financial support need to be shifted away from high-polluting, high impacting vessels towards initiatives that support environmentally friendly and socio-economically beneficial fishing.

We await with anticipation some clarity on how the new funding mechanisms included in the new budget for the next 7-year period, 2028-34, will work. In particular, what special mechanisms and safeguards will be included to ensure that the next EU Budget will work for small-scale fisheries, where such issues as generational renewal, fleet decarbonisation, and viability are ever more pressing?

 

The New EU Budget – the Multiannual Funding Framework (MFF): EMFAF disappears into the National and Regional Partnership Fund (NRPF)

The so-called Multiannual Funding Framework (MFF – the EU’s Budget) has been given a massive shake up by the European Commission, combining many of the existing financial mechanisms – including the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, the European Agriculture Guarantee Fund, and the fund for Rural Development – into the European Economic, Territorial, Social, Rural and Maritime Sustainable Prosperity and Security Fund.  

In her Statement on July 16, Commission President von der Leyen outlined 5 key areas of the new MFF: Firstly, “investing in people, Member States and regions, National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs) worth EUR 865 billion, will be the foundation for investment and reform.  At their heart remain cohesion and agriculture”. Von de Leyen stated EUR 300 billion will be safeguarded for farmers’ income support, and “on Fisheries, EUR  2 billion are ringfenced as a minimum”, she said.

For his part, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis stated that: “fisheries and aquaculture producers will remain the lifeblood of Europe’s coastal communities and economies.”

He went on the reassure that fisheries and ocean related policies would be well reflected in the 3 main building blocks of the new MFF – the National and Regional Partnership Fund (NRPF worth EUR 453 billion), the European Competitiveness Fund (EUR 409 billion to support investments in the Blue Economy, including fisheries), Horizon Europe (EUR 175 billion to support ocean observation, research and innovation), and Global Europe (EUR 200 billion to support Ocean Diplomacy and the fight against IUU). 

In addition to the Euros 2 billion ringfenced “for supporting the CFP”, Kadis mentioned that an EU facility worth 63 billion would be available to fund data collection, fisheries control and digital solutions. 

It may be worth reflecting that compared to the 6 billion of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) for the previous 7 year period, 2 billion is significant belt tightening. President of the European Parliament Pech Committee, Carmen Crespo Díaz, expressed concern about the CFP losing its identity and importance, stating that “Fisheries is a common EU policy. It must not lose its identity. Without a specific fund, there is no specific policy”.  

However, Kadis did emphasise that “EU fishers and aquaculture producers can (also) have access to the big pot of EUR 453 bn, through the national plans (the NRPPs) submitted by EU Member States.” Obviously though, this depends on national and regional priorities and the demands from competing sectors. 

Further insights are provided in the proposal published by the European Commission for a regulation in support of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the Ocean Pact and the EU’s maritime and aquaculture policy for the next 7-year funding period

The proposal provides a long list of the areas to be covered by the NRPF for the maritime sectors referred to, namely:

"the generational renewal and energy transition of fisheries, sustainable aquaculture activities, and processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products, sustainable blue economy in coastal, island and inland areas, marine knowledge, skilling of blue economy related activities, the resilience of coastal communities and in particular of small-scale coastal fishing, the strengthening of international ocean governance and observation and enabling seas and ocean to be safe, secure, clean and sustainably managed"

Perhaps small-scale fishers can  take heart that, in Recital 5, the new NRPF proposal for the combined maritime sectors states that: the particular needs of small-scale coastal fishing, and the contribution to environmental, economic and social sustainability of fishing operations, as defined in the CFP Regulation 1380/2013 should be addressed in the National and Regional Partnership (NRP) Plans, as set out in Article 22 of [NRP Regulation]. Also that Article 3.3 states that “for operations related to small-scale coastal fishing, Member States may grant a maximum 100 % aid intensity rate."

However, whatever the new instrument may be called, whatever the aid intensity rate, and whatever the nice wording used, unless the specificities of small-scale fisheries are taken into account, funding will continue to fall short. 

Three key issues, long neglected in previous EU budgets, need particular attention: a) the lack of political will to support small-scale fisheries and the squeezing of the sector on many sides; b) the complexity of the process for applying for funds, and the heavy bureaucratic burdens imposed; and c) the need for projects to be completed before funding becomes available. 

Unless these issues are addressed, and a dedicated delivery system for small-scale fisheries with clear priorities established, whatever name is given to sectoral support and whatever fine declarations are made, funds will not reach Europe’s forgotten fleet. The Blue Seeds initiative in partnership with WWF shows how pre-financing can work for delivering successful and sustainable solutions for small-scale fisheries projects. This could be one line to follow in the NRPPs for funding SSF.

Fleet Modernisation, Decarbonisation and Generational Renewal: more questions than answers

In previous EMFF and EMFAF proposals the Commission had set out conditions for fleet modernisation and renewal, with special provisions for small-scale fisheries (through National SSF Action Plans). Although generational renewal and energy transition are the first mentioned priorities of the NRPF, there is no mention of how this is to be achieved through funding of new vessels (for young fishers) or vessel conversions and retrofitting new engines and equipment (for decarbonisation). 

An optimistic interpretation of this would be that the Commission has taken simplification to its logical conclusion and placed the entire responsibility on Member States for deciding what priority fleet renewal and decarbonisation should be given (compared to say agriculture and rural development priorities), and deciding the conditions under which new MFF funding can be allocated through the NRPPs to fisheries. This would mean that the Parliament and the Council will no longer have a role to revise the proposals, but that each Member State will be free to decide on its own framework and priorities. 

A more pessimistic view would see this as a further marginalisation of fisheries, with a drastically reduced allocation of funding, in a context of spatial squeezing from more economically and politically powerful Blue Economy sectors, and with aquaculture and as yet ill defined “Blue Food” being prioritised as the future for food to be produced from the sea. 

Clarity is therefore needed on what overarching conditions will be applied at EU level, other than the need to be WTO compliant, and with any new builds, modernisation and vessel conversions  requiring that national capacity ceilings are respected. 

All this needs to be placed in the context of a system for measuring and reporting fleet capacity that is not fit for purpose, rife with misreporting and engine certification fraud, with significant undocumented overcapacity exacerbating overfishing. The current system based on GT and kW is long overdue for reform.

We need a new fit-for-purpose system that can differentiate between fishing capacity that causes overfishing, and capacity that is needed to provide decent working conditions. Such a system also needs to enable the EU vessel fleet to modernise and to incorporate technical solutions for decarbonisation without penalties. 

The New European Finding Landscape under the MFF 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any Questions?

The EC has just published a “Q&A” on the new 2028-2034 budget proposal for fisheries, aquaculture and ocean-related activities.

It explains that the goal of the redesign of the MFF for fisheries, aquaculture, maritime and ocean related policies is to reduce fragmentation, better align funding with national and regional priorities, and enable faster budget reallocation in response to crises and exceptional events. At the same time, the proposal aims to grant more flexibility to Member States to better address their needs and priorities.

It highlights that the NRPF can be used to make investments in rural and coastal areas, community-led local development (CLLD), smart specialisation strategies, and support for generational renewal in the fishery and aquaculture sector.

It explains that NRPPs can allocate resources to energy transition measures, and clarifies that: the Competitiveness Fund is explicitly designed to back decarbonisation and innovation – for example modernising vessels, port electrification, green shipbuilding, and blue tech.

It highlights that any fleet support must comply with WTO fisheries subsidies rules and CFP objectives.

 What makes small scale fisheries a potential game changer? 

• High socio-economic significance:70% of the EU fleet by number, 50% of the seagoing jobs, 19% by value of all EU catches; providing high quality, catch of the day fresh fish; representing an invaluable repository of local traditional and experiential knowledge of marine ecosystems, oceanography and meteorology; 
• Low environmental impact: 5% of EU catches by volume, 10% of the fishing capacity, measured by GT.
• Low carbon food production, low carbon livelihood generation; declining use of fossil fuels, 35 litres per day/ 38 Euros per day; fossil fuel consumption of SSF a drop in the ocean compared to other sectors (like maritime transport).

What are the specificities of small-scale fisheries that require a differentiated approach?

• Small-scale fishing is a traditional way of life for many coastal dwellers, who are willing to sacrifice economic gain in order to live and work next to and on the sea, and to practice the profession of their forebears. Such activity may be part-time, seasonal and combined with other activities, providing enough income to get by on.   
• SSF is based on micro or nano family based enterprises, the majority with business turnovers of 100.000 Euros or less, many engaged in seasonal or part-time employment, often reliant on unpaid or underpaid labour to make businesses viable, and with little capacity to absorb economic shocks;
• Small scale operations, with single operator or small crew on board, long hours, incurring significant opportunity costs by taking time out to attend external meetings, and with little surplus to invest in hiring representatives to act on the fishers’ behalf;
• Important source of revenue and socio-economic benefits in remote communities with few alternatives, with important links to tourism. A vibrant harbour full of small boats is an invaluable attraction for tourism, without which tourism would decline. 
• Low volume, high value production, making producers highly vulnerable to market fluctuations and competition from high volume production and low cost imported products; and
• Limited geographical range and limited fishing opportunities makes the fishing activities especially vulnerable to overfishing and competition from larger scale fishing, climate change impacts, to invasive species (like marine algae) and to displacement from traditional fishing grounds through spatial squeezing.

Ogłoszenie o naborze

 

Specjalista ds. administracyjnych i finansowych

 

Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) to ogólnoeuropejska platforma jednocząca rybaków małoskalowych (SSF) w celu osiągnięcia sprawiedliwego rybołówstwa, zdrowych mórz i tętniących życiem społeczności. Jako organizacja zrzeszająca organizacje z całej Europy, LIFE dąży do zapewnienia dedykowanego głosu swoim członkom, wspierając ich w organizowaniu się na poziomie regionalnym i budowaniu ich potencjału na poziomie krajowym i lokalnym, zarówno jako drobnych producentów, jak i agentów zmian. LIFE jest zarejestrowane w Belgii jako stowarzyszenie non-profit (asbl).

LIFE poszukuje wsparcia administracyjnego i księgowego w celu budowania zdolności księgowych i sprawozdawczości finansowej oraz organizacji zadań administracyjnych biura w Brukseli i koordynacji regionalnej.  

Potrzeba ta wynika z rosnącej roli LIFE w projektach na poziomie UE, z rosnącymi wymaganiami w zakresie koordynacji coraz większej różnorodności działań oraz terminowego dostarczania szczegółowych raportów finansowych i administracyjnych zgodnie ze ścisłymi wytycznymi. W nadchodzącym okresie liczba projektów, w które się angażujemy, prawdopodobnie wzrośnie, a wymóg wsparcia administracyjnego i finansowego stanie się coraz ważniejszy. 

Stanowisko to może zostać obsadzone albo przez zewnętrzną agencję świadczącą wymagane usługi, albo poprzez rekrutację urzędnika ds. administracyjnych i finansowych w ramach zespołu biura LIFE w Brukseli. Chcielibyśmy zbadać obie opcje.

Środowisko pracy i zakres obowiązków

Biuro LIFE w Brukseli jest odpowiedzialne za utrzymywanie relacji z instytucjami europejskimi (Komisją, Parlamentem itp.), z członkami LIFE (stowarzyszeniami rybaków małoskalowych), za koordynację działań, za administrację projektami, księgowość i rachunkowość oraz za prowadzenie dokumentacji. LIFE musi przestrzegać belgijskich przepisów regulujących działalność stowarzyszeń nienastawionych na zysk (asbls), wraz z corocznym składaniem raportów finansowych i innych do władz belgijskich. 

Od czasu pandemii Covid, LIFE przyjęło elastyczne podejście do pracy domowej. Nasza siedziba jest zarejestrowana pod adresem w Brukseli, gdzie mamy możliwość współpracy, a także dostęp do sal konferencyjnych i innych udogodnień w razie potrzeby. 

Specjalista ds. administracyjnych i finansowych/agencja zewnętrzna będzie pracować jako część zespołu pomagającego zapewnić sprawne prowadzenie działań LIFE. W szczególności będzie on/ona zapewniać wsparcie administracyjne dla bieżącej pracy LIFE oraz dla kilku nowych projektów, w które LIFE będzie coraz bardziej zaangażowane w nadchodzącym okresie.

Biegła znajomość języka angielskiego i francuskiego jest niezbędna; znajomość innych języków europejskich jest dodatkowym atutem.

Ważną częścią pracy będzie opracowanie skutecznego, ale prostego systemu księgowości oraz skuteczne monitorowanie dochodów i wydatków w stosunku do budżetów. Niezbędna jest dobra znajomość systemów księgowych. Znajomość projektów finansowanych przez UE (Horizon, Interreg, EMFAF itp.) oraz belgijskich wymogów sprawozdawczości finansowej (Moniteur Belge / MinFin) będzie wyraźną zaletą. 

Informacje o różnorodności: LIFE jest stosunkowo małą organizacją, prowadzoną przez rybaków dla rybaków. Niewielki zespół złożony z mężczyzn i kobiet obejmuje dwóch pracowników LIFE z Brukseli (doradca ds. polityki i starszy specjalista ds. komunikacji), koordynatora ds. Bałtyku i Morza Północnego z siedzibą w Szwecji oraz sekretarza wykonawczego z siedzibą w Barcelonie.

Rekrutacja pracowników opiera się na doświadczeniu, motywacji, kwalifikacjach i sprawdzonych umiejętnościach. 

LIFE nie dyskryminuje ze względu na wiek, płeć, rasę, religię, seksualność czy klasę społeczno-ekonomiczną.   

Więcej informacji na temat LIFE można znaleźć na naszej stronie internetowej www.lifeplatform.eu .

 

GŁÓWNE OBSZARY ODPOWIEDZIALNOŚCI

Osoba na tym stanowisku podlega sekretarzowi wykonawczemu, a główne obszary odpowiedzialności przedstawiono poniżej

Administracja/Sekretariat

(a) Opracowanie systemu/systemów przetwarzania zamówień i faktur, organizowania listy płac, prowadzenia rejestrów wydatków oraz monitorowania dochodów i wydatków w stosunku do budżetów.

(b) Utrzymanie i rozwój systemów księgowości, rachunkowości i sprawozdawczości finansowej LIFE w celu spełnienia wymogów wielu donatorów/projektów. 

(c) Wybrać odpowiednie pakiety oprogramowania księgowego, np. WinBooks, Odoo itp., w celu monitorowania dochodów i wydatków oraz generowania raportów finansowych i pulpitu nawigacyjnego dla kierownictwa.

(d) Generowanie raportów projektowych zgodnie z określonymi terminami określonymi przez darczyńców i organy przyznające dotacje.

(e) Generowanie rocznych sprawozdań finansowych zgodnie z wymogami prawa belgijskiego (raportowanie do MinFin/Moniteur Belge) od 2025 r. 

(f) wsparcie w codziennej administracji, logistyce podróży i organizacji wydarzeń

 

SPECYFIKACJA OSOBOWA

Poniżej wymieniono wymagania niezbędne do podjęcia pracy na tym stanowisku. Wybór kandydatów zostanie dokonany na podstawie stopnia spełnienia tych wymagań.

Administracja/Sekretariat/Księgowość/Finanse

∙ Udokumentowane doświadczenie na pokrewnym stanowisku

∙ Doświadczenie w pracy przy minimalnym nadzorze 

∙ Doświadczenie i znajomość pakietów oprogramowania Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint itp.), oprogramowania księgowego (Winbooks, Odoo itp.) oraz systemów wideokonferencyjnych (Zoom, Teams itp.).

∙ doświadczenie w zarządzaniu spotkaniami, w tym sporządzanie protokołów

∙ Doświadczenie w zakresie potrzeb administracyjnych i sprawozdawczych projektów UE (Horyzont, Interreg, EMFAF itp.).

∙ Doświadczenie/znajomość belgijskich oficjalnych wymogów dotyczących kodowania kont i księgowości (Moniteur Belge/ MinFin)

∙ doświadczenie w pracy w podobnej organizacji

Komunikacja

∙ Wysoki standard umiejętności komunikacji pisemnej i ustnej

∙ Biegła znajomość języka angielskiego i francuskiego (w mowie i piśmie)

∙ biegła znajomość innych języków UE (w mowie i piśmie) będzie dodatkowym atutem

Cechy osobiste

∙ wysoki stopień motywacji i profesjonalizmu

∙ Doskonałe umiejętności interpersonalne i pracy w zespole

∙ Poszanowanie poufności przez cały czas.

∙ Dbałość o szczegóły, zwłaszcza jeśli chodzi o zadania księgowe

∙ Zdolność do rozwijania efektywnych relacji roboczych na wszystkich poziomach oraz do pełnienia ról przywódczych.

∙ Zdolność do pracy bez nadzoru i z wysokim poziomem inicjatywy

∙ proaktywność, kreatywność i elastyczność w poszukiwaniu rozwiązań problemów

∙ umiejętność zachowania spokoju i dotrzymywania napiętych terminów pod presją czasu

∙ szybko przyswaja informacje i uczy się nowych umiejętności

 Elastyczność i niezawodność

∙ gotowość do okazjonalnej pracy w godzinach nadliczbowych, jeśli jest to wymagane

∙ Gotowość do podróżowania po Europie w razie potrzeby

 

WYNAGRODZENIE I WARUNKI

Z siedzibą w Brukseli, uprawniony do pracy zgodnie z prawem belgijskim i natychmiast dostępny. 

Wynagrodzenie adekwatne do kwalifikacji, umiejętności i doświadczenia:

Około 2.500 euro miesięcznie (w tym wynagrodzenie urlopowe; dodatki za: podróże; bony na posiłki; GSM + abonament; korzystanie z laptopa).

Wynagrodzenie dla kontrahenta zewnętrznego zgodnie ze świadczonymi usługami. 

Oferujemy elastyczne opcje pracy, pozwalające na pracę w domu lub w biurze, w zależności od potrzeb.

W celu uzyskania dalszych informacji i zgłoszeń prosimy o kontakt: Brian O'Riordan, deputy@lifeplatform.eu

 

Prosimy o przesłanie listu motywacyjnego i CV na adres deputy@lifeplatform.eu przed datą zamknięcia zgłoszeń: 3 października 2025 r.

 

A significant policy development in Denmark is set to strengthen small-scale, low-impact fisheries through the introduction of a new quota retention scheme. This long-anticipated measure aligns closely with the objectives of our Danish member organisation, FSK-PO (Foreningen for Skånsomt Kystfiskeri).

The recent political agreement entitled “En ny kurs for dansk fiskeri“ (A New Course for Danish Fisheries) introduces a provision to retain fishing quotas within the national small-scale fisheries segment. This applies specifically to vessels measuring less than 17 metres in length and up to 50 GT. The measure constitutes a major advancement for local, sustainable fishing practices.

The scheme guarantees that once a quota is allocated to small-scale operators, it cannot be transferred out to industrial fleets. Once fishers join the scheme, they are required to trade their quotas with another small-scale fisher within the system, ensuring that the quota remains available for the future. For the next two years, however, fishers participating in the ‘open part’ of the scheme retain the option to exit and take their quota with them, provided they also withdraw completely from the small-scale sector.. This curbs the ability of larger operators to acquire and consolidate quotas, a trend that has eroded the viability of small-scale fishing communities across Europe. At the same time, it allows for quota transfers among small-scale fishing operators, thus enabling succession, adaptability, and resilience.

This retention framework directly addresses long-standing concerns raised by both LIFE and FSK-PO. It aims to ensure equitable access to fisheries resources for low-impact, small-scale operators. Furthermore, it supports the economic revitalisation of coastal communities and reinforces Denmark’s commitment to environmentally responsible fishing practices.

FSK-PO has played a pivotal role in advocating for this policy change. The organisation has issued a detailed statement in support of the new quota retention measure while emphasising the need for strong implementation and meaningful follow-through.

In particular, FSK-PO underline that it is essential for the quota retention mechanism to be genuinely binding and not subject to loopholes such as temporary registration or circumvention through shell companies. Additionally, incentives must be introduced to encourage fishers to remain within the small-scale segment—this includes support for gear innovation, marketing, and infrastructure. Finally, transparency in the administration of quota registries is vital for maintaining public confidence and ensuring accountability in the system.

This Danish initiative sets a significant precedent at the European level. It demonstrates that safeguarding quotas for low-impact fishers is both feasible and politically achievable. Moreover, it reflects a broader shift towards an ecosystem-based and socially responsible approach to fisheries governance, and offers a potential model for replication in other Member States.

LIFE will continue to monitor the implementation of this Danish scheme to ensure that it delivers tangible benefits to coastal communities and support its member organisations in promoting improvement in quota management frameworks across the European Union. 

Across the EU, fishers face stringent control measures. The captain has to formally report  estimated catches, in terms of weight and species. When these landings are controlled there is a margin of tolerance of 10% per species, although catches from the Baltic are allowed a margin of 20%. This is part of European efforts to combat illegal fishing and to ensure more accurate catch reporting for management.

The EU adopted their new Fisheries Control Regulation in 2024 with more stringent rules for catch reporting in place for all fishers. However, those vessels with the largest mixed and unsorted catches, mostly destined for fishmeal factories and thence exported outside of the Union, have been given an exemption from the margin of tolerance reporting requirements by the Commission, provided they land at one of seven Listed Ports. 

These ports are all located in Baltic Member States, with six in Denmark and one in Latvia. Denmark is the EU country with the highest volume of landings and unselective fishing by trawlers has now been further incentivised by the Commission through the listed ports provisions.  

According to the Commission, “the margin of tolerance is the maximum allowed difference between catch estimations by captains of fishing vessels and the actual weight of the fish caught. The (listed ports) derogation allows operators to benefit from a more flexible approach to catch reporting in logbooks when landing in listed ports.”

As LIFE already reported in this article, this exemption disproportionately benefits large vessels landing high-volume, low-value catches—particularly those in the fishmeal sector—allowing them to bypass stricter reporting requirements. This unfair system places other segments of the fleet at a competitive disadvantage and raises serious concerns about transparency and sustainability, highlighting the need for a level playing field in the industry.

Currently, the Commission has chosen to rely on ineffective methods for measuring bycatch, a Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) system using CCTV video cameras. These have been in place for many years and have not proved effective in accurately reporting bycatch,  let alone analysing the species composition of unsorted small pelagic catches. 

LIFE advocates for using more effective, modern control techniques like eDNA to assess the species composition in unsorted mixed pelagic catches. In the Baltic, it should be utilised to monitor and identify the bycatches of cod and salmon in particular. DTU Aqua has conducted research and trials into this technology for several years and the regional Baltic Sea Fisheries Forum (BaltFish) control expert group has also discussed its application. Although additional work is necessary to develop a model through which eDNA data can give biomass estimates. Such a system would enable the total biomass of bycatch species to be accurately estimated, as has been proven to be already more effective than CCTV, especially for identifying the presence of salmon and cod in unsorted mixed pelagic catches. Therefore, such tests should be made compulsory for all landings at Listed Ports.

Salmon bycatch

Salmon is a valuable commercial species in the Baltic, facing multiple challenges and in urgent need of effective conservation and management. A huge area of concern is the significant but often overlooked bycatch of salmon in industrial pelagic catches. According to the ICES Baltic Salmon and Trout Assessment Working Group (ICES 2011, WGBAST), estimates have shown that around 0.1% of the total catch may consist of salmon in these industrial fisheries. This corresponds to approximately 100,000 salmon per year. By comparison, the total salmon quota for the entire Baltic Sea for 2025 was around 45,000 salmon. The pelagic vessels usually do not have a quota for salmon and should therefore be prohibited in fishing in areas where they are likely to take it as bycatch. 

There are around 40 unique salmon stocks along the Swedish coast. However, several of these stocks are in deep crisis, and recently we have seen a number of alarming reports from rivers where fishing has either been stopped or severely restricted due to record-low migrations. 

By failing to collect accurate data on bycatch of commercially and ecologically important species such as salmon and cod, the Commission is prioritising industrial fishing over fisheries conservation, severely compromising the future of the fishery, and privileging one fleet segment (fishmeal) whilst penalising another (for human consumption) and the communities that depend on it. 

We see an urgent need for modern, independent and effective controls to be applied to pelagic fishing and urge that an eDNA-based control programme be introduced without delay.

We therefore call on the Swedish government, which currently chairs the regional management body Baltfish, to launch a Joint Recommendation for such within the group as soon as possible.  

We must act now – we have the tools, and it’s a travesty to continue to turn a blind eye to these important vanishing fish and the derived social consequences.