Last week, the Commission adopted a report on its evaluation of the multiannual plan for key Baltic Sea fish stocks (MAP). Under the MAP, this report should have been sent to the Parliament and the Council by 21 July, 2019.

– Anyone expecting the report to be an evaluation that identifies structural failings in the MAP is likely to be disappointed, says Charles Berkow, Policy Officer at Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre.

– An evaluation should reasonably be based on the stated goals of the MAP. It should assess the extent to which the goals have been achieved. It could analyse the causes of poor results. It may suggest improvements, he says.

But in this report, assessments of how the MAP has contributed to the achievement of its goals are largely lacking, while other issues are prioritized, according to Charles Berkow.

– There is little discussion of the reasons for the results. The report lacks recommendations for improvement. An opportunity to improve fisheries management in the Baltic Sea has been missed, he says.