The Estonian fishermen can catch the Baltic herring and the sprat more. Today, in Vilnius, at the Annual Meeting of the International Baltic Sea Fishery Commission was decided to raise the fishing possibility for sprat for all the states around the Baltic Sea. The fishing possibility for the Baltic herring increased also for Estonia and Latvia. According to Mr. Ain Soome, Director General of Fish Resources Department of the Ministry of the Environment, scientists assess the sprat stock in the Baltic Sea to be in good condition. The Estonian fishermen are allowed to fish for 43 260 tons of sprat in 2004 (31 930 tons in 2003). The total allowable catch for the Baltic herring was left the same by the Commission, only the fishing possibilities for the Baltic herring increase for Estonia and Latvia due to the good shape of the stock in the Gulf of Riga. “According to the TAC for Baltic herring, Estonia can catch 14 536 tons and Latvia 9834 tons in 2004. Because the state of the sock in the Gulf of Riga is very good inversely to the open sea, an extra allocation of the Baltic herring in the amount of 28000 tons was assigned to Estonia and Latvia. At least 112 260 tons of the amount given on the ground of the TAC Estonia and Latvia must catch in the Gulf of Riga. Estonia and Latvia have to agree now on how much each side will catch in the Gulf of Riga and in the open sea,” said Mr. Soome. The fishing possibility for the cod was decreased for all member countries because of the poor condition of the stock. Estonia can catch 1096 tons of cod next year. Estonia can catch the salmon in year 2004 as much as last year – 9504 fish. The salmon quota in the Gulf of Finland was reduced due to the poor shape of the salmon population. Next year, Estonia can catch 3255 fish in the Gulf of Finland For additional information please contact: Mr. Ain Soome |
