Fischer in need: EU plans massive fishing quotas in the Baltic Sea!

Fischer in need: EU plans massive fishing quotas in the Baltic Sea!

Negotiations on the fishing rates in the Baltic Sea continue today and throw a shadow on the tense location of the industry among fishermen in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. An alarming proposal from the EU Commission could massively restrict the coastal fishing that is already under pressure. These developments ensure great concerns among those affected, while they hope for an agreement in the EU Council of Ministers.

The main reason for concern are the possible new regulations that affect the smaller fishermen in particular. A possible design stipulates that passive coastal fishing could be banned from the targeted catches of herrings. This would have a strong negative impact on all cutters who are smaller than twelve meters and work with letters or reuses in the western Baltic Sea. Christopher Zimmermann, the head of the Thünen Institute for Baltic Sea fishing, warns: "That would be a hard blow for the already heavily stricken fishing industry in the region."

The consequences of the decline in fish stocks

The western Baltic Sea is considered the main catch area for the fishermen in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In view of the existing restrictions, in which cod can only be caught as a by -catch and there is a ban on the tow fishing for Hering, the fishermen fear that they could soon lose the last option for targeted herring catches. The lack of fish stocks are an immediate sign of the changing environmental conditions that also affect industry. In a further decline in the odds, Zimmermann advocates maintaining the already greatly reduced fishing quantities and warns that additional cuts are more symbolic and no longer have a positive impact on the stocks.

The situation is alarming: the cod stocks in the Baltic Sea are practically at the end, which also has a direct impact on the fishermen. The environmental influences play a role that is not to be underestimated, which is taken up by the environmental associations. In return, these require stricter measures to protect the fish stocks, which only enlarges the gap between the interests of the fishermen and the requirements of sustainability. Minister Backhaus was already skeptical about the proposals of the EU Commission and made it clear that a rejection of the drastic measures is in the room.

In the Baltic Sea, the decline in stocks is not only an economic problem, but also affects the entire ecosystem. Fishing is not only a profession, but also part of the region's cultural identity. The lack of the cod, a once frequent fish, is concerned about their future. At a time when the natural resources are overlooked, it remains to be seen how the negotiations in Luxembourg end up and what decisions are ultimately made.

For further information and a profound analysis of the topic, Read the article on www.ndr.de .