The Baltic Sea Advisory Committee’s (BSAC) Executive Committee held its final meeting of 2016 on 18 November in Copenhagen leaving a number of important items to tackle in 2016.
Outstanding issues include a number of procedural and functional topics such as formalising the production of advice and election of a new Vice Chair. Coalition Clean Baltic nominated Edward Stern from the Fisheries Secretariat for Vice Chair. The nomination was supported by many – and discussed at the meeting – but the Chair, Reine Johansson, decided to delay a vote until 2016. This is very disappointing for the minority group, normally represented in the Vice Chair role as it leaves this position vacant for over 6 months. On procedural issues, the Chair agreed to draft a document on improving the functioning of BSAC for the next Executive Committee meeting.
We also attended a one-day WWF conference on Baltic fisheries in Gdynia Poland on 19 November. Informative on a number of Baltic fisheries topics, a highlight of the meeting, for some, was a short statement by retired Polish fisher Jerzy Jasicki toward the end of the meeting. Meeting Chair Steve Karnicki passed the microphone to Jasicki who stated clearly, simply, and humbly, as translated in the meeting “Many of you ask what has happened to the eelpout. I can tell you. We caught them all. They aren’t there anymore.”
We applaud Jasicki’s courage to step forward and provide his frank assessment. His willingness to reconcile the past is a welcome step to renewing strained relationships among stakeholders. Building and rebuilding these relationships is a key priority for FishSec in the coming year.