Baltic Breakfast: Shortcomings of Baltic fisheries management

At the end of October, the fisheries ministers in the EU Council will meet and decide on next year’s fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea. The decision is preceded by a lengthy process and prerequisites set out both in the Common Fisheries Policy “Basic regulation” and in the Multiannual plan for the stocks of cod, herring and sprat in the Baltic Sea. Both regulations aim at keeping fish stocks at safe levels and making sure that fishing pressure is held at a long-term sustainable level. Still, the fish stocks in the Baltic Sea are dwindling, many are at critical low levels and catches are historically low. How can this be explained?

At this breakfast seminar, two researchers present their research on the current management system and on the remedial measures set by fisheries ministers to protect fish stocks. They also discuss possible improvements of the current management.

Speakers

Christian Möllmann, Professor at the Institute for Marine Ecosystem and Fisheries Sciences at the University of Hamburg

Sara Söderström, Researcher at Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre

Moderator: Charles Berkow, Policy analyst at Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre

Practical information

The seminar will take place on Wednesday, 23 September2026 from 08:30 to 09:15, at the Scandic Klara hotel on Slöjdgatan 7 in Stockholm. A vegetarian breakfast will be served from 8:00.

Physical participation requires registration.

Register here

The seminar will also be livestreamed. A recording can be watched afterwards. No registration is needed to watch the livestream.

Questions?

To ask questions of the participating researchers, please email us at ostersjocentrum@su.se or visit sli.do and use the code #22102.