EU ministers maintain 2027 Baltic fish quotas for vulnerable species, raise others

In Luxembourg, agriculture and fisheries ministers from EU countries finalized the 2027 fishing quotas for the Baltic Sea. They refused to adopt the European Commission's cuts to western herring and both cod species, keeping this year's limits in place for the next season. The Commission had also sought to lower accidental-catch allowances for western cod by 88%, eastern cod by 51% and western herring by 45%, but the ministers maintained one outlet levels.

For central herring, the ministers approved a rise that exceeds the Commission's 49% increase proposal, and they accepted the Commission's recommendation to raise sprat limits. The ban on commercial catches of western and both cod species remains, allowing only incidental catches to support stock recovery. Poland's allocations stay unchanged, and a special permit for small boats to fish western herring was retained.