A report on iUU fishing of Baltic Sea cod - Fisheries Secretariat

Part IDescribing and quantifying IUUfishing for cod in the Baltic SeaIntroductionScientific advice from the International Councilof the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has indicatedthat the two cod stocks in the Baltic Seaare suffering from unsustainable exploitationlevels. The Eastern stock has declined in size to apoint where it may not be able to replenish itselfand is considered to be threatened with collapse.The Western stock is in a better state but is alsosubject to high levels of fishing that mean thatthe yields from the fishery are lower than theirpotential level.Combined with less favourable environmentalconditions the ability of the two Baltic Sea codstocks to increase or, minimally, sustain themselvesis further compromised.The cod fisheries in the Baltic Sea have gainednotoriety for non-compliance with fisheriesregulations. This is commonly referred to as illegal,un<strong>report</strong>ed and unregulated fishing, or IUUfishing. IUU fishing, particularly in the EasternBaltic, is seen as the major contributor to theunsustainable exploitation of the cod stocks.In order to better understand IUU fishing in theBaltic and the measures that are in place to counterthe problem the study:• Undertook a review of the available literatureon IUU fishing within the Baltic region;• Conducted informal meetings/interviews withindividuals with an active interest in the BalticSea cod fisheries; and,• Reviewed and analysed European fisheriespolicy and regulatory frameworks for controland enforcement that apply within the BalticSea.The <strong>report</strong> is divided into two parts. The firstdescribes the results of the literature search andpresents the views expressed by participants ofthe informal meetings/interviews. The secondpart provides a summary of the policy and regulatoryframeworks that are in place and providethe basis for Member States to implement Europeanfisheries policy.Published informationAn Internet search revealed quite an extensiveand relatively recent source of literature on IUUfishing, the majority of which focuses on the highseas. In contrast, very limited peer reviewed and/or “grey” literature has been published that attemptsto describe and/or quantify IUU fishing inthe Baltic Sea. The following section summarisesthe most recent and readily available informationon IUU fishing for cod in the Baltic Sea, as wellas provides comment and analysis.The International Council for the Exploration ofthe Sea (ICES)The International Council for the Explorationof the Sea (ICES) officially recognises the seriouslevel of IUU fishing in the Baltic Sea cod fishery,particularly within the eastern Baltic. ICESdescribes the main IUU problem as, “...mis<strong>report</strong>edlandings, mostly in the form of un<strong>report</strong>edlandings”. It suggests that restrictive quotas, theabsence of fishing opportunities and inadequateinspection are the main causes, with the circumstancesbeing different in different Member States.Because the problem is considered to be sosignificant, the ICES Baltic Fisheries AssessmentWorking Group has included its own estimatesof un<strong>report</strong>ed landings in its annual <strong>report</strong>s since1993, referring to them as “unallocated quota”,and has highlighted that the scale of un<strong>report</strong>edlandings has severely compromised its assessments.– 10 –