Finland Times

The European Union Agriculture and Fisheries Council on Thursday reached an agreement on the fishing quotas in the Baltic Sea next year. The Agriculture and Fisheries Council decision was reached on the basis of Baltic Sea member countries fishing forum Baltfishin’s proposal.

The herring quota will be reduced by 24 percent in accordance with Finland's objective. In the Gulf of Finland and Baltic Sea herring quota will rise to less than a tenth.

The quota for codfish will reduce by a fifth and sprat quota will decline by five percent.

“The whole solution is consistent with sustainable fishing and ensures the operation conditions of fishing industry,” Agriculture and Environment Minister Kimmo Tiilikainen said.

According to environmental conservation organizsation Oceana, the codfish quota in the Baltic Sea in 2016 is too large in view of sustainable development.