Herring populations in the Baltic Sea are at historically low levels.
EnvironmentEuropean Union
- Omissions
- The claim treats all Baltic herring stocks as uniformly depleted, but the Gulf of Riga herring stock is assessed as having a large spawning stock biomass and being the most stable of the four Baltic herring stocks, according to ICES advice summarised by FishSec (May 2025).
- Central Baltic herring has been below Blim for most of the last 30 years, meaning the current depleted state is part of a prolonged period, not necessarily a new or unprecedented historical minimum.
- No specific data on western Baltic herring stock status was found in the available sources.
- Sources
- PrimaryEuropean Commission — COM(2025) 458 finalAs regards central Baltic herring, ICES estimates that the stock has been below Blim most of the last 30 years.
- PrimaryEuropean Commission — Press release IP/25/1987The Commission also proposes to decrease fishing of Bothnian herring (-62%), herring in the Gulf of Riga (-17%), plaice (-3%) and salmon in the main basin (-27%).
- SecondaryFishSec (Fisheries Secretariat) — ICES advice overviewThe Gulf of Riga herring population is estimated to have a large SSB and to be the most stable out of the four Baltic Sea herring stocks. With regard to Gulf of Bothnia herring, a maximum of 62,684 tonnes is advised for 2026, a decrease from the maximum of 74,515 tonnes for 2025.