Baltic Sea: the BSAC adopts its recommendations for 2026

On July 10, the Baltic Sea Advisory Council (BSAC) sent its recommendations for fishing opportunities in 2026 to the European Commission.

The BSAC recognizes that the Baltic Sea habitats remain in poor condition, affecting ecosystem functionality, resilience and the long-term viability of fisheries.

While eastern and western Baltic cod and western Baltic herring face zero catch advice, improved prospects for central Baltic herring and sprat reflect signs of recovery. The BSAC stresses the importance of maintaining an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, which must remain adaptive and responsive to rapid environmental changes.

In addition to fishing pressure, which is currently low for many stocks, other factors such as species interactions, climate change, eutrophication and salinity changes are becoming increasingly important. Management strategies must therefore consider both the direct and incidental effects of fishing, as well as wider marine pressures and multi-user interactions, including offshore energy, extractive activities and pollution from land-based activities.

BSAC urges the urgent development of ecosystem-based advice, including quantification of predator-prey dynamics. In particular, the growing populations of seals and cormorants are seen as a serious threat to the profitability of fisheries. Regional cooperation and EU support are needed to implement preventive measures and to coordinate predator management across borders.

The table below summarizes the ICES advice and the BSAC recommendations.

You can read the BSAC advice on fishing opportunities for 2026 in the Baltic Sea here.