The European Anglers Alliance replies to the European Commission's proposal for a Council Regulation fixing the fishing opportunities for Atlantic Salmon (and other fish stocks) in the Baltic Sea for 2025. The response was prepared by four EAA members with a specific interest in fishing opportunities for Atlantic salmon in the Baltic Sea: Deutscher Angelfischerverband e.V. (Germany), Sportfiskarna (Sweden), Sportfiskerforbund (Denmark) and Suomen Vapaa-Ajankalastajat (Finland).
In its proposal for a Council Regulation fixing the fishing opportunities for Atlantic salmon (and other fish stock) in the Baltic Sea for 2025, the EU Commission proposes to discontinue the possibility of recreational salmon fisheries except during the summer in the coastal areas in ICES subdivisions 29N to 31.
Recreational fishing is not the driver for the bad state of some salmon river stocks and stopping recreational exploitation at sea, has no potential to significantly change the dire situation. It is unlikely that the situation of Atlantic salmon in the Baltic Sea will improve unless river habitats of poor stocks are sufficiently restored , and marine prey (e.g., herring and sprat) are managed adequately (ecosystem-based). Furthermore, the EAA calls for a review of the initiatives in the southern rivers of the Baltic Sea, where salmon stocks are threatened, to ascertain whether they are sufficient to achieve the set goals.