the plotki magazine (pdf) - Moving Baltic Sea

S T O R I E S F R O M T H E S E A S I D E →With a limited space for successful reproduction, itis no wonder that the cod stocks are facing difficulties.A point often overlooked in the debate on over-fishingand the reduction of the Baltic cod stocks.Commercial fishing can add unwanted additionalpressures. Fishing doesn’t simply reduce the size ofa stock by directly taking away some of the fish. It canalso lead to changes in the structure of the affectedeco-system. Zimmermann gives an example with thedrop of the cod population, the stock of sprat explodes.As their main predator becomes less and less, spratsthrive. What is good for the sprat, however, is in turn badfor the cod. Since sprats feed on cod eggs and larvae,the increased number of sprats is capable of further reducingan already ailing cod population. In this scenariothe prey regulates the population size of the predator.This ecological turning of the tables has economicconsequences. “For the Baltic fishing industry, sprat isnot half as valuable as cod. From a strictly economicalpoint of view the present status quo doesn’t make sense.A healthy cod population would be far more profitable.”Theoretically the Baltic stocks are quite productive,says Zimmermann. If managed in a sustainable way, codstocks could recover; an intelligently managed fisherycould even increase the productivity of the stocks. Fishand fishermen would profit alike.and this may add limits to the “eco-balance” of a BarentsSea cod. Especially, since large amounts of thosecod are first transported to China; there they are defrosted,filleted, and refrosted before they finally findthere way to German markets. However, aren’t we alreadyused to the idea that our food has travelled a longdistance? In fact, all this is not stranger than buying anapple in the nearby supermarket that was shipped overfrom New Zealand.4 ―Why then is an intelligent management of the Balticcod stocks such a problem?This is a question to which one can find many smart,but no satisfactory answers. Let’s not go into the detailsof collective decision-making problems and the“tragedy of the commons. ”The fact is, the EU has all theinformation needed for intelligent action probablyno other maritime eco-system is as comprehensivelyresearched as the Baltic Sea. And, at least in theory,everything could be so easy: reduce the nutrient inflow,set aside some marine reserves, reduce the quotas for awhile and effectively control the fishermen.For the moment there are other paradoxes. If a codon a Warnemünde dinner plate comes from the BarentsSea this may be odd still, for a conscious consumerthis may even feel like a better choice. The Barents Seapopulation is again classified as healthy. Transport anddelivery of course are much more energy consuming 8