baltic cod
fishery improvement partnership
background / history
In 2002 when the Baltic Sea Cod Fishery Improvement Partnership (FIP) was formed, the main challenges to the fishery included:
- Adult spawning stock size was estimated to be at the lowest level on record. Estimated abundance of spawners was approximately 25 percent of the minimum target level advised by ICES.
- ICES scientists had recommended a moratorium on fishing, but the European Union did not offer relief funding to offset the expected economic losses from halting the fishery. Instead, the EU proposed a gradual reduction in harvests—with unknown odds of recovering the stock.
- ICES estimates that catches exceeded reported landings by 35-45 percent. If correct, this suggested that the EU’s proposed harvest reductions are likely to be unenforceable.
- The ICES estimate of unreported catches, were disputed by many in the industry, and methods used in deriving the estimate (among other important indicators used in management) had not been disclosed.
The FIP, supported by significant European processors and retailers, initiated a number of actions:
- Developed control instructions / catch documentation scheme for Baltic Sea Cod
- Commissioned research regarding IUU estimation methods and catch reconstruction
- Engaged with EU Commission, ICES and Baltic Sea Regional Advisory Council
- Conducted mass balance analysis and reviewed trade statistics
- Promoted and tested use of VMS/GPS based traceability systems
Improvement Events / Milestones:
2002 East and West Baltic Total Allowable Catches split
2003 Quotas held constant
2004 Reduced quotas- recovery plan developed
2005 Recovery plan agreed
2006 Long-term management plan introduced, crack down on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU)
2007 Catch Documentation Scheme introduced – IUU levels reduced.
2008 Stock above minimum level of spawning stock biomas (Blim)
2009 Fishery enters MSC assessment; EU imposes quota return from Poland to compensate for previous over-quota landings
TACs now set in line with Management Plan.
2009 SSB at 3.5 times the 2005 level of 66,000 t (ICES, 2009a).