Herring

Herring in the Central Baltic Sea are subject to overfishing but are not currently being overfished. Stock assessments are carried out annually by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The most recent assessment was published in 2024 using data up to that year. The next assessment is expected in 2025.The stock assessment defines reference points for fishing pressure (F) and biomass (B). For fishing pressure, there is a target to keep F at or below Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY). For biomass, there is no target. However, there is a trigger point (MSY BTrigger). Below this level, F should be reduced to allow the stock to increase. Because BMSY is not defined, the Good Fish Guide applies its own definition of 1.4 x MSY BTrigger.The stock was benchmarked in 2023, resulting in updated reference points for biomass and fishing mortality. Consequently, only assessment results from the last two years should be compared.SSB has been below MSY Btrigger since 1985, was below Blim between 2020 and 2023, but in 2024 is estimated to be above Blim. In 2024, the SSB (SSB2024:MSYBtrigger = 0.60) remained below MSY Btrigger, falling between Bpa (the precautionary point for SSB) and Blim (the limit reference point for SSB). This indicates that the stock is subject to overfishing.Fishing pressure increased in the beginning of 1960s and peaked in 2018. Fishing mortality (F) dropped below the Maximum Sustainable Yield (FMSY) level in 2022 and remained below FMSY in 2023 (F2023:FMSY = 0.85). Therefore, the stock is not currently subject to overfishing.ICES advises that when the EU multiannual plan (MAP) for the Baltic Sea is applied, catch levels in 2025 corresponding to the F ranges in the plan, should be between 95,340 and 125,344 tonnes. This is considered precautionary under the ICES advice rule. The advice applies to all catches from this stock in all areas where it occurs, including Subdivision 28.1 (Gulf of Riga). This represents a 129%–139% increase in catch advice compared to the previous year.This stock comprises several spawning components with varied landings and stock levels. The increased catch advice for 2025 reflects the stock's rising biomass and upward trajectory since 2022. This growth is likely attributable to reduced fishing mortality in recent years, combined with high recruitment in 2022.

Few appropriate management measures are in place, enforced but are only partially effective. The primary concern in this fishery is that Total Allowable Catches (TACs) have consistently been set above scientific recommendations in recent years.This stock is shared between the EU and Russia and is covered under the EU Baltic Sea Multiannual Management Plan (MAP), which provides precautionary advice. However, Russia does not have a management plan for this stock and has not adopted the MAP. Despite joint TAC agreements between the EU and Russia, the shared TAC does not account for herring caught outside the Central Baltic Sea, this could potentially contribute to overfishing. Additionally, Russia did not officially report catch data for 2022 and 2023 to ICES, so the assessment relied on approximate figures.The TAC is based on the advised catch for the Central Baltic stock, plus assumed catch of herring from the Gulf of Riga stock caught in the Central Baltic (based on a 5-year average), minus assumed catch of Central Baltic herring caught in the Gulf of Riga (based on a 5-year average). In 2024, a TAC constraint of 69,425 tonnes was used, since the total TAC in 2023 was slightly above advice. However, the 2024 TAC (67,368 tonnes) was still set above advice (no more than 52,549 tonnes). In 2023, catches exceeded both scientific advice (98,696 tonnes) and the agreed TAC (95,643 tonnes), resulting in a pattern of management not aligning with scientific advice. TACs in 2021 and 2022 also exceeded advised levels by 13% and 12%, respectively, with reported catches closely aligning with or slightly exceeding TACs (1.01 average from 2019–2023, range 0.95–1.04). The stock is vulnerable due to low biomass levels, making continued TAC setting above scientific advice a serious concern. Although the 2025 catch advice increased by ~134% from 2024, driven by an upward revision of the 2022-year class, this does not alleviate long-term risks.Discarding in this fishery is considered negligible. Beyond TACs, the fishery is managed by a Minimum Landing Size (MLS) of 20 cm (18 cm in Skagerrak/Kattegat). Herring in the region typically mature at 18–20 cm, aligning with the MLS.The EU has fishery management measures, which can include catch limits, population targets, and gear restrictions. However, compliance in the EU has been inconsistent, with ongoing challenges in implementing some regulations. The goal of reaching Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) by 2020 was missed. In 2024, the EU reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable fisheries by aligning management with scientific advice to gradually approach MSY. However, no new target date has been set for achieving MSY across all fisheries. The Landing Obligation (LO) requires all quota fish to be landed, even if unwanted (over-quota or below minimum size). It aims to encourage more selective fishing methods, reduce bycatch, and improve catch reporting. However, compliance is poor, and accurate discard levels are hard to quantify with current monitoring programmes. The Marine Conservation Society views Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) with cameras is one of the most cost-effective tools for providing reliable fisheries data and aiding informed management decisions. Fully monitored fisheries enhance collaboration, data accuracy, stock recovery, and reduce impacts on marine wildlife and habitats. However, the full potential of REM may only be achieved when it tracks fishing location and documents catch and bycatch, particularly where vulnerable species and habitats are at risk. As of January 2024, the EU is introducing a Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) mandate for EU vessels, including CCTV cameras on vessels 18m or more that pose a potential risk of non-compliance, within the next 4 years.

Herring are mainly caught by pelagic trawls in the Central Baltic Sea. These trawlers do not generally contact the seabed and tend have very little bycatch of other species.Pelagic stocks in the Baltic Sea (in subdivisions 25-29 and 32) are mainly caught in pelagic trawl fisheries, most of which take herring and sprat simultaneously. While purse seiners also catch herring in the region, their contribution is minor compared to the pelagic trawl fishery. Bycatch of non-target species is generally considered low but may occasionally include cod or sprat.Pelagic herring fisheries are regarded as some of the cleanest fisheries in terms of minimal bycatch, low seabed disturbance, and limited discarding. Although the pelagic herring fishery in the Central Baltic rarely impacts the seabed, occasional contact does occur. Purse seines and pelagic trawls can also inadvertently catch marine mammals; however, no significant bycatch of marine mammals or birds has been reported in this fishery. As a result, interactions with Protected, Endangered, or Threatened Species are considered negligible.The dual targeting of herring and sprat has historically led to species misreporting, with sprat sometimes reported as herring. While recent regulations require sorting of catches before landing, compliance has been inconsistent and warrants further review. Additionally, bycatch levels of other species, such as juvenile cod, remain unknown.The eastern cod stock, primarily found in Subdivisions 25–26, is experiencing poor growth conditions, likely due to limited food availability. This scarcity may be linked to the low abundance of herring, a key prey species, in these areas. Restricting herring and sprat fisheries in regions with higher cod concentrations could alleviate some of these pressures and improve conditions for cod recovery.To improve monitoring and reporting of fishing activity, the Marine Conservation Society would like to see remote electronic monitoring (REM) with cameras implemented, used and enforced. To reduce the impacts of fishing on the marine environment we would like to see a just transition to the complete removal of bottom towed gear from offshore Marine Protected Areas designated to protect the seabed. We also want to see reduction and mitigation of environmental impacts including emissions and blue carbon habitat damage.