”Long-term management based on science will produce results – as opposed to the quota haggling of before”, was WWF-Sweden’s reaction to the improved situation for the Baltic cod, highlighted in today’s ICES advice for next year’s TACs in the Baltic Sea.
“The recovery for the Baltic eastern cod stock is running unexpectedly well, and we are now beginning too see the result of the Baltic nations’ following scientific advice, their working against illegal fishing and their reducing the fishing fleet – which is something for which WWF has actively worked for many years”, said Lasse Gustavsson, Secretary-General for the Swedish section of the World Wide Fund for nature.
“The system of TAC-haggling will go down in history as a really embarrassing example of failed management”, added Jenny Fors, a fisheries adviser with WWF-Sweden. “That system has contributed to more than 80 percent of EU fish stocks having become overfished, and that the EU now is the world’s biggest importer of fish”.
In another press release, the Swedish Board of Fisheries Director-General Axel Wenblad described the development for the Baltic cod stocks as “satisfying”, echoing the WWF contention that this goes to prove the importance of following scientific advice and a long-term management plan.
The Board of Fisheries however also recognised the somewhat more problematic situation for some of the Baltic herring and sprat stocks.
“The fact that these stocks still lack EU management plans has a bearing on the advice”, the government agency noted, adding that “the work to create such a management plan for the Baltic has now started. Sweden has recently sent its standpoints to the Commission”.