Commission leads efforts to tackle Baltic Sea fisheries and environmental challenges

Yesterday, Commissioners Costas Kadis and Jessika Roswall hosted the third edition of the 'Our Baltic Conference'. Gathering Agriculture, Environment, and Fisheries ministers from the EU Baltic countries, along with European Parliament representatives and regional stakeholders, to address the pressing environmental and socio-economic challenges affecting the Baltic Sea.

The conference focused on the interconnected pressures of climate change, eutrophication, misreporting possibly leading to overfishing, habitat destruction, and pollution. All these stressors are contributing to the deteriorating health of this vital marine ecosystem. The discussions underscored the need for a comprehensive and coordinated response to ensure the sustainable management of Baltic Sea resources.

The event also highlighted the urgent need to address the declining fish stocks in the Baltic Sea, which are critical to the livelihoods of fishers and local communities. It is crucial to ensure effective fisheries management measures to protect the economic and cultural heritage of coastal communities that rely on fishing.

Promoting research and implementing legislation

Considering the pressing challenges, it is crucial to support relevant scientific institutes with both financial and human resources, enabling them to undertake necessary research and provide robust scientific advice.

The Commission highlighted the importance of implementing existing legislation, including fisheries control, to effectively prevent misreporting. By ensuring accurate catch registration and adherence to EU legislation, we can significantly support the recovery and resilience of fish stocks.

Improving the environmental state of the Baltic Sea

Key outcomes of the conference included a commitment to revise the Marine Strategy Framework Directive to enhance its effectiveness and the implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation to regenerate marine habitats and species. Additionally, the conference highlighted the role of the Water Resilience Strategy and the European Ocean Pact in promoting sustainable blue economies in the region.

The conference also addressed the issue of eutrophication, a significant problem in the Baltic Sea caused by nutrient runoff. Measures under the Water Framework Directive and the revised Urban Wastewater Directive were discussed as vital components for reducing nutrient influx and achieving a healthier Baltic Sea.

As part of the broader EU efforts, the conference underscored the importance of regional governance through the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) to coordinate efforts at the basin level. The EU will continue to support these initiatives through co-funding and dedicated projects aimed at restoring coastal habitats.

The European Commission remains determined to lead these efforts, working together with Member States and regional partners for a sustainable and prosperous Baltic Sea.

Background

More than 85 million people live around the Baltic Sea basin. The Baltic Sea is the most polluted sea in Europe, affected, amongst others, by biodiversity loss, climate change, eutrophication, and elevated levels of contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and litter, in particular plastic waste.

In 2023, the second 'Our Baltic Conference' took place, during which ministers of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment of the Baltic Sea EU Member States committed to safely clean and manage submerged munitions in the Baltic Sea, making it more sustainable for the generations to come. The Commission joined these important efforts by providing €2 millionfor the mapping of unexploded munitions in the Baltic Sea.

In 2020, a first 'Our Baltic Conference' took place, during which ministers of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment of the Baltic Sea EU Member States adopted a declaration whereby they committed to boost efforts to bring the Baltic to a good environmental status. More particularly, the Member States pledged to enhance cooperation to prevent overfishing and to better address pollution, including from agriculture, marine litter, contaminants as well as sunken ships and munitions.

Quotes

European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis said: "This conference has reaffirmed our commitment to the Baltic Sea. We are not willing to gamble with the future of our fishers or our ecosystems. An ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management is essential for accelerating recovery and ensuring long-term sustainability".

European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall said: "The environmental, economic, and security challenges facing the Baltic Sea are interconnected. Addressing them together is vital to the EU's strategic autonomy and resilience. We have the tools to tackle these challenges, and now, we need to implement them".