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.
