Weekly Roundup: 2013 Baltic Cod TAC Lowered

Scientists indicated that more stocks will be fished at Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) level.

The cuts in Total Allowable Catches (TACs) adopted in previous years proved to be an efficient measure to reach sustainability in the Baltic fishery. The number of known stocks at MSY level could go up from three to six in 2013 if proposed TACs are adopted.

The TAC for the eastern Baltic cod stock is to be decreased by nine per cent to 61,565 tonnes and by two per cent for the western Baltic cod stock.

Salmon's TAC will be reduced by 11 per cent in 2013 to allow for the sustainable recovery of the stock.

To see the proposals for other species please click here

Despite Cod TACs being reduced, researchers from the Technical University of Denmark have stated that the the eastern Baltic cod stock is starting to recover.

Although total cod abundance is still low, cod abundance in the Bornholm Basin in the southern Baltic is currently the highest recorded in this area since the 1970s.

However, while cod numbers are increasing, the biomass of cod's prey, such as sprat and herring, is at an historic low, meaning cod numbers are unlikely to keep increasing.

In Aquaculture news, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) launched its global, independent trademark for responsibly farmed seafood with the certification of two fish farms in Indonesia.

The first certified is one of the biggest tilapia farms in the world and is operated by Regal Springs.

ASC certified tilapia will now be available in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, France, Belgium, Spain and Canada. Pangasius certification will likely be available in the Autumn 2012.