FishSec - The Fisheries Secretariat

11/12/2025

https://www.fishsec.org/2025/12/10/eus-annual-eel-fishing-closures-full-of-exemptions-roll-over-proposed/

The Commission is proposing a roll-over of this year’s provisions for the annual eel fishing closures, which will be adopted at the Fisheries Council later this week. For a critically endangered population with a zero catch advice since 2021 for all life stages, including catches for aquaculture a...

11/12/2025

Only a fraction of the European eel population remains, but eels still face blocked migration routes, pollution and continued fishing across the continent. They urgently need stronger protection in order to secure recovery. Targeted fishing closures to protect migration is the bare minimum. Without real action now, recovery of this critically endangered species will remain out of reach.
Watch our short clip here:

Only a fraction of the European eel population remains, but eels still face blocked migration routes, pollution and continued fishing across the continent. T...

11/12/2025

Watch our short clip here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MDnaylCljpw

05/12/2025

CITES Summit ending today rejected a proposal to list all Anguillid eel species under Appendix II to protect them from illegal and unsustainable trade. The proposal put forward by the EU and Panama was rejected by a large majority including key countries involved in trade, aquaculture and consumption.

Read more here:
https://www.fishsec.org/2025/12/05/proposal-to-list-all-anguillid-eels-under-appendix-ii-of-cites-rejected/

04/12/2025

Forage fish may be small, but their impact on the Baltic Sea is big. Sprat and herring are key players for a healthy marine food web, and they need our help. By managing these species sustainably, we can restore declining stocks and protect the entire Baltic Sea ecosystem.

Find out more about our forage fish project and read our report at: www.fishsec.org/small-fish-big-impact

The Small fish big impact-project is funded by the Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation as part of the Small Fish – Big Impact project grant.
̈rförändring

Forage fish may be small, but their impact on the Baltic Sea is big. Sprat and herring are key players for a healthy marine food web, and they need our help....

05/11/2025

Widespread exploitation of the critically endangered European eel population continues against scientific advice, despite few signs of recovery. Yesterday, the International Exploration of the Sea, ICES, published its scientific advice on fishing opportunities and conservation for European eel for 2026. As in previous years, ICES advises zero catch for all life stages, all uses and in all habitats. The conservation advice is to reduce other human-related mortalities to zero and restore habitats.

Read more in our PR here: https://www.fishsec.org/2025/11/04/press-release-no-catches-of-european-eel-in-2026-can-be-in-line-with-scientific-advice/

31/10/2025

Eel news from France: thanks to the work of the French Association for the Study and Protection of Fish, the French Ministry for Ecological Transition has approved a moratorium on recreational fisheries.

28/10/2025

Today, the Agriculture and Fisheries Council decided on fishing opportunities for 2026. Read more in our joint PR: https://www.fishsec.org/2025/10/28/fisheries-ministers-risk-breaking-eu-law-jeopardising-baltic-sea-recovery/

24/10/2025

🌊🐟 Last week during in Brussels, we were delighted to co-organise a forage fish event with the Blue Marine Foundation and the Irish Wildlife Trust 🌊🐟

FishSec presented the report “Small Fish with a Big Impact” about forage fish in the Baltic Sea. The event also addressed the EU–UK sandeel challenge, sprat fishing in Irish waters, and the need for ecosystem-based management.

A big thank you to MEP Isabella Lövin for hosting, and to all speakers and participants for their valuable contributions!

🎥 More information and recordings of the presentations can be found here: https://www.fishsec.org/2025/10/24/small-fish-big-impact-time-for-ecosystem-based-management-key-takeaways-from-last-weeks-brussels-event/

07/10/2025

Tomorrow is the final day to register for the event "Small Fish, Big Impact: Time for Ecosystem-Based Management", hosted by MEP Isabella Lövin and co-organised by FishSec, Blue Marine Foundation, and Irish Wildlife Trust on 16 October during: 🌊

The event will explore how we can better manage Europe’s forage fish to ensure both ecosystem health and long-term fisheries sustainability. FishSec will present our new report on Baltic Sea forage fish from the project Small Fish Big Impact, funded by the Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation

🐟 Register here: https://www.bluemarinefoundation.com/small-fish-big-impact-time-for-ecosystem-based-management/
̈rförändring

01/10/2025

As part of we are pleased to invite you to the event: "SMALL FISH, BIG IMPACT: TIME FOR ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT”

Date: October 16, 2025
Time: 12:30 PM -14 2:00 PM
Location: European Parliament, Room 4F384
Format: In-person with lunch provided
Hosted by: MEP Isabella Lövin (SE, Verts/ALE)
Organised with the support of FishSec, Blue Marine Foundation and Irish Wildlife Trust

The event will explore how we can better manage Europe's forage fish to ensure both ecosystem health and long-term fisheries sustainability.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
- Keynote speech by MEP Isabella Lövin (SE, Verts/ALE)
- Launch of New Report: FishSec unveils the report "Small fish with a big impact" showing how declining sprat and herring populations threaten both marine ecosystems and the long-term viability of Baltic fisheries.
- International Court Case Study: The EU-UK sandeel challenge as a fisheries management learning tool Blue Marine Foundation draws lessons from the EU-UK sandeel dispute and what it teaches us about ecosystem-based fisheries management.
- 6 miles out: The fight for sustainable sprat fishing in Irish waters.Irish Wildlife Trust explores Ireland's new phased in sprat regulations and why new quotas and exclusion zones for larger vessels still fall short of protecting inshore ecosystems and small-scale fishing communities.

Register here: https://www.bluemarinefoundation.com/small-fish-big-impact-time-for-ecosystem-based-management/

Read more:https://www.fishsec.org/app/uploads/2025/10/251001-Small-Fish_Ocean-Week_Invitation.pdf

28/08/2025

Herring and sprat aren't just fish; they're the lifeline of the entire Baltic ecosystem. But right now, several Baltic Sea stocks are in crisis.

- The good news? To save these important species, the EU Commission recently put forth a 2026 precautionary fishing plan.

- The bad news? The science has a history of being disregarded by EU ministers. This October, they have to decide between the long-term health of our sea and short-term profit.

We urge EU Fisheries Ministers to support the precautionary measures in the Commission’s proposal when the Council meets to decide final fishing limits in October.

👉 Read more here: https://www.fishsec.org/2025/08/27/ngos-welcome-commissions-precautionary-baltic-sea-fishing-limits-for-2026/

Council Must Follow Commission's Lead to Protect Critical Small Pelagic Fish Populations 27 August 2025 – Environmental NGOs (Deutsche Umwelthilfe, FishSec, Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and WWF Baltic Sea Programme) welcome the European Commission's proposal for 2026 Baltic Sea fishing ...