New ICES Advice Shows Strong Recovery of Baltic Central Herring and Sprat Stocks
2026.7.6
At the end of May 2026, ICES published its scientific advice for fishing opportunities in 2027, including key pelagic stocks in the Baltic Sea. The latest assessments show that several important pelagic stocks are now at or above the precautionary and sustainability reference points used in fisheries management.
- For herring in the central Baltic Sea ICES advises that catches under the EU Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea could range between 211,363 and 324,914 tonnes in 2027. This represents an increase of between 76 and 106 percent compared with the previous advice.
- For Baltic sprat, ICES advises catches between 253,819 and 332,885 tonnes in 2027, representing a 44 percent increase compared with last year’s advice.
- For herring in the Gulf of Riga, ICES advises catches between 25,832 and 38,696 tonnes, which is 9 percent higher than the previous year’s advice.
- For herring in the Gulf of Bothnia, ICES advises catches between 80,767 and 90,391 tonnes in 2027. This represents a 44 percent increase compared with the previous advice.
The latest ICES advice demonstrates that several Baltic pelagic stocks are rebuilding within the current management framework. The significant increases in catch advice for sprat, central Baltic herring, Gulf of Riga herring and Gulf of Bothnia herring indicate that a genuine recovery is taking place despite ongoing environmental pressures affecting the Baltic ecosystem.
In the ongoing political debate about further reductions in Baltic fishing opportunities, it is important to note that measures related to fisheries alone do not address the primary pressures impacting the marine environment and the wider ecosystem: eutrophication and pollution.
The European Commission’s proposal for Baltic Sea fishing opportunities for 2027 is expected to be published at the end of August 2026. Political decision is scheduled for the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting on 26-27 October 2026. As in previous years, the we will participate actively in the relevant discussions and advocate for decisions that are firmly based on ICES scientific advice.
