Concrete actions towards a more sustainable fisheries management in the Baltic Sea

We have all reasons to be concerned about the future of Baltic Sea and its fisheries. In the case of herring, only one of seven economically exploited stocks is in a good ecological status. What has driven down stocks to such alarming levels and how come their extremely varying ecological status? Are simply the large trawlers catching roughly 90% of all herring to blame? Or the large fish meal factories that process much of the herring caught? Considering that all stocks are per definition managed by the EU commission, are there simple ways to improve the status of the Baltic Sea stocks despite several factors impacting the stock and marine environment? 

In this workshop we will raise and discuss solutions with help of experts and local stakeholders with the objective to aim at simple actions which are based on the complex reality. We will look at fisheries management for a local perspective highlighting the Gulf of Riga herring stock and the small but strong cod stock in Aland waters as case studies for localised fisheries moving away from large-scale industrial, international fishing. What can we learn from the past to bring forward concrete actions points for a more sustainable fishing management?

Part 1: Managing the herring stock – challenges and successes.

Introduction by Charles Berkow

Presentation on Gulf of Riga herring - Ivars Putnis, BIOR (LV)
Presentation on EMFAF project “Improving the science basis of the fisheries management of the Gulf of Bothnia herring” – Nicolas Goni, LUKE (FI)
Presentation - The ecological status of Gulf of Bothnia herring, SLU (SE)
Presentation on the regional management of the cod stock around the Åland Islands Linda Sundström, Åland.

Part 2: Panel discussion:
What can we do differently to avoid a similar scenario in the Baltic Sea?

Panel members: Mikael Lindholm Åland Landskapsregering, Jonas Harald FLAG Ostrobothnia, Vesa Tschernij, MCS, Simrishamn Municipality, Ivars Putnis, BIOR