This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea (2022)
SUMMARY OF:
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?
It outlines fishing opportunities (quotas) in the Baltic Sea for 2022 and amends some quotas set out in Regulation (EU) 2021/92 (see summary).
KEY POINTS
Scope
The regulation applies to European Union (EU) fishing vessels operating in the Baltic Sea and certain recreational fisheries*.
Total allowable catches and allocations
Total allowable catches (TACs) are the maximum quantities of fish of different species that can be caught during the year concerned. These limits are set out in the annex to the regulation.
TACs are based on:
- maximum sustainable yield* and are in line with the multiannual management plan for Baltic Sea fisheries, adopted under Regulation (EU) 2016/1139;
- the best available scientific advice, including reports by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, taking into account biological and socioeconomic aspects while ensuring fair treatment between fishing sectors.
The TAC for each individual species is divided into quotas assigned to the EU Member States or non-EU countries.
Quotas are approved by the Council of the European Union on the basis of proposals from the European Commission.
Conditions for landing catches and by-catches*
The stocks of non-target species within the safe biological limits referred to in Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 on the common fisheries policy (see summary), which qualify for the derogation from the obligation to count catches against the relevant quota, are identified in the annex.
Measures to protect Baltic fisheries
For various reasons, notably environmental, the stocks of a number of fish species in the Baltic Sea are particularly vulnerable. The regulation includes measures such as:
- closures to protect cod spawning;
- catches of cod and western herring limited to unavoidable by-catches in other fisheries;
- in recreational fisheries, closures or daily limits on the number of cod and salmon that can be retained;
- prohibitions on fishing sea trout and salmon in certain areas.
Amendments to Regulation (EU) 2021/92
Reflecting consultations with coastal Member States and negotiations between Norway, the United Kingdom and the EU, the regulation introduces detailed amendments to Regulation (EU) 2021/92 concerning fishing opportunities for the following.
- Cod in the eastern English Channel, from 1 January 2021.
- Mackerel in United Kingdom and EU waters of the southern Norwegian Sea, Baltic Sea and North Sea, from 1 January 2021.
- Mackerel in Norwegian waters of the southern Norwegian Sea and the northern North Sea as it affects Denmark, from 12 October 2021.
- Norway pout and associated by-catches in the sea area between Denmark and Norway/Sweden, as well as United Kingdom and EU waters of the North Sea and United Kingdom waters of the southern Norwegian Sea, applicable from 1 November 2021 until 31 October 2022.
- Other species in the EU waters of the North Sea and part of the Celtic Seas off Scotland, from 1 January 2021.
- Capelin in Greenland waters, applicable from 15 October 2021 until 15 April 2022.
FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?
It has applied since 1 January 2022 for Baltic fisheries. The amendments to Regulation (EU) 2021/92 apply as indicated above.
BACKGROUND
For further information, see:
- Baltic Sea: Agreement reached on 2022 fishing opportunities (European Commission).
KEY TERMS
MAIN DOCUMENT
Council Regulation (EU) 2021/1888 of 27 October 2021 fixing for 2022 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Baltic Sea and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/92 as regards certain fishing opportunities in other waters (OJ L 384, 29.10.2021, pp. 1–19).
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Council Regulation (EU) 2021/92 of 28 January 2021 fixing for 2021 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters (OJ L 31, 29.1.2021, pp. 31–192).
Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) 2021/92 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
Regulation (EU) 2016/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2016 establishing a multiannual plan for the stocks of cod, herring and sprat in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks, amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005 and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007 (OJ L 191, 15.7.2016, pp. 1–15).
See consolidated version.
Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, pp. 22–61).
See consolidated version.
Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, amending Regulations (EC) No 847/96, (EC) No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, (EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007, (EC) No 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No 1342/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006 (OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, pp. 1–50).
See consolidated version.
last update 07.12.2021