WWF Finland is calling for a suspension of wild salmon fishing in the main part of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia for next year. According to WWF, the status of the female broodfish population in these areas is "catastrophically weak".
The number of salmon migrating from the Baltic Sea to rivers off the Gulf of Bothnia has collapsed in the past two years, the WWF said in a press release on Friday. For example, the number of salmon rising in the Tornio River on the Finnish-Swedish border has decreased by 70 percent, while the number of female broodfish has fallen below half of target levels, the NGO said.
The reasons for the collapse of the salmon stock are unclear.
WWF Finland fisheries conservation officer Matti Ovaska argues that in this uncertain situation, wild salmon fishing must be suspended next year.
"All excess salmon mortality must now be reduced to zero. Temporarily stopping fishing is the only way we can try to impact the number of salmon that survive to spawn," Ovaska said.
In the WWF’s view, fishing for farmed salmon in the Gulf of Finland could continue, but the harvesting season should be delayed.
In order to avoid catching wild salmon, fishing should only be opened in the summer when wild salmon heading for rivers off the Gulf of Bothnia have left the Gulf of Finland. Farmed salmon usually hatch later than their wild relatives.
WWF also concerned about herring
Finnish Parliament is currently discussing Baltic Sea fishing quotas for next year, including salmon and the smaller Baltic herring.
Fishing restrictions imposed due to the decline of herring stocks seem to have helped populations to record, at least to some degree. However, the WWF believes that the herring catch should not be increased next year.
The EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council is to make a final decision on Baltic Sea fishing quotas at the end of October, based on the positions of the member states and the EU Commission.
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