In the Baltic Sea, almost no cod remains.

Omissions

• The claim is a rhetorical characterisation: cod still exists in the Baltic Sea at low biomass; the stock is severely depleted rather than literally absent (zero-catch advice reflects the precautionary approach).
• The most acute depletion concerns the eastern Baltic cod stock (subdivisions 24-32); the western Baltic stock (22-24) also collapsed in 2016/17 but the claim does not distinguish between the two stocks.
• The main corroborating sources (ICES advice of May 2025 and the fishsec overview of 28 May 2025) predate the session; the 2026 advice cycle (covering 2027) maintained the same zero-catch position, consistent with the claim.

Sources

• PrimaryICES — Cod in subdivisions 24-32, eastern Baltic stock (advice report)ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, there should be zero catch in 2025 and 2026 (1). This advice applies to all fleets fishing the stock in subdivisions 24-32 of the Baltic Sea.
• PrimaryEuropean Commission — Commission proposes fishing opportunities for 2026 in the Baltic Sea (press release IP/25/1987)Today, the Commission adopted its proposal for the 2026 fishing opportunities for the Baltic Sea. It is based on a scientific assessment that indicates the state of the stocks.
• AcademicLewin et al. (2023), Fisheries Research — The impact of stock status and fisheries regulations: A case study of the Baltic codThe western Baltic cod stock collapsed in 2016/17 and, for the first time, a daily bag limit was introduced in the recreational cod fishery.
• SecondaryFishSec — Overview: ICES advice on Baltic Sea fishing opportunitiesThe advice for the eastern Baltic cod remains at zero catch. Advice for this stock is now given biannually, and the condition has remained poor.
• SecondarySeas At Risk — NGOs to EU decision makers: Commit to a Genuine Baltic Sea Recovery PlanICES maintains its zero-catch advice for Eastern Baltic cod in 2026 and 2027.