Business · Energy & Commodities · 7 hrs ago
EU keeps exception allowing small German Baltic fishers to catch herring
EU fisheries ministers kept an exception for small German Baltic fishers to catch herring in 2027, rejecting a European Commission proposal to end it.
The exception applies to small boats using passive gear such as fixed nets in the western Baltic Sea.
Herring and cod catches there remain tightly restricted, and the agreed bycatch limits will stay at current levels.
Bycatch means fish caught unintentionally while fishing for other species.
The decision matters because German officials said ending the exception could threaten small coastal fishers' livelihoods, while the minister said it would not harm herring stocks.
Catch limits will rise for some other Baltic fish, including herring in the central Baltic and Gulf of Riga, sprat and plaice.
Recreational anglers may also keep catching one stocked salmon per day.
The agreement is expected to receive formal approval in November, after which the EU's total limits will be divided into national quotas.
EU fisheries ministers agreed to keep an exception allowing small German Baltic fishers to target herring with small boats and passive gear in 2027.
The ministers rejected a European Commission proposal to end the exception.
Herring in the western Baltic and cod in the western and eastern Baltic may still be landed as bycatch within existing limits.
The decision also keeps a daily allowance for recreational anglers to catch one stocked salmon.
Catch limits for several other Baltic fish stocks will rise in 2027.
- Who
- EU fisheries ministers agreed to keep the exception for small German Baltic fishers.
- What
- They will be allowed to target herring in 2027 using small boats and passive gear.
- When
- The agreement was reached on 26 October 2026. It applies to 2027.
- Where
- In the western Baltic Sea, which borders Germany.
- Why
- The ministers rejected the Commission’s proposal to end the exception. German minister Alois Rainer said it was important to the coastal fishery.
European Commission
EU fisheries ministers
Proposal on the exception
European Commission
The Commission has sought for several years to abolish the exception.
EU fisheries ministers
They rejected the proposal and kept the exception for 2027.
Fishing by small coastal fishers
European Commission
The Commission proposed ending the exception for targeted herring fishing.
EU fisheries ministers
Ministers allowed small German coastal fishers to continue targeting herring with small boats and passive gear.
Targeted herring fishing in the western Baltic had already been prohibited, apart from the exception for small coastal fishers.
EU fisheries ministers met in Luxembourg and agreed to retain the exception for 2027.
Formal adoption of the catch limits was expected.
- Targeted herring exception
- Small German coastal fishers may use small boats and passive gear in 2027
- Western Baltic herring bycatch
- 437 tonnes
- Western Baltic cod bycatch
- 31 tonnes
- Eastern Baltic cod bycatch
- 211 tonnes
- Central Baltic herring catch limit
- Up 71% to about 165,000 tonnes
- Sprat catch limit
- Up 44% to about 292,000 tonnes
2 sources
What people are saying
The Commission proposal goes too far, especially on western herring, and keeping the exceptions as they are now is very, very important to me, but above all to our fishery.
The coastal fishers on the Baltic are already fighting for their economic survival in various areas.
By balancing the recovery of fish stocks and the protection of marine ecosystems with the long-term viability of our fisheries sector, we want to secure healthy seas and thriving fishing communities for future generations.