Background
The Baltic consists of two fisheries (Western and Eastern). The Western Baltic is managed by the European Union; the Eastern Baltic is jointly managed by the EU with the Russian Federation.

The latest scientific information from by ICES (International Council for Exploration of the Seas) suggests that there are acute problems on cod stocks in the Eastern Baltic, and so proposes a complete ban on cod fishing for the next three years as the fastest route to stock recovery. It estimates that this would return the Eastern Baltic to a healthy biomass as quickly as 2008. In response, the European Commission has proposed minimal quota and effort cuts of just 10% - contingent on the agreement of a multi-annual recovery plan for cod in the Baltic by 30 June 2007.

Our view
Young’s believes that the European Commission’s response to the Baltic issue has so far failed to take account of two very important factors:
1. Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU)
It is generally believed that a large proportion of the cod taken from the Eastern Baltic is as a result of IUU activity. This must be fully taken into account by the EU in considering the future quota. Now that the Eastern Baltic is under EU control, it is imperative that the IUU problem is properly addressed – because without a much stronger process of regulation, it is not possible to manage this fishery by any quota means.
2. Not a long term approach
Young’s is concerned that the failure of recovery plans to generate increases in cod stocks elsewhere in European waters should not be repeated in the Baltic. Neither the short-term 10% quota reduction nor the proposed long term management plan is likely to be sufficiently precautionary to properly safeguard this fishery. Whilst they may in the short term protect the Baltic fishing industry and communities, the failure to achieve a significant reduction in fishing mortality and adhere more closely to the ICES advice could jeopardise this fishery’s long-term ability to recover.

Young’s believes that a more precautionary approach is required.
We urge the Commission and the Council to take a more precautionary approach to management of the eastern Baltic cod resource. In our view this would be achieved by setting a TAC (total allowable catch) which will restore the spawning biomass to a level above the precautionary limit and reduce fishing mortality to the target level - within a reasonably short timeframe that can be modelled by ICES. It also requires more stringent enforcement of existing fisheries regulations to bring IUU fishing under control.

We believe that it is still possible to implement a more effective management regime without closure of the fishery, which will mean recovery is slower, but will preserve the fishing industry infrastructure for the future.

Our position
Based on the concerns expressed in this document, we will continue to lobby Governments and the EU for a stronger management regime and revised approach to the Eastern Baltic.

Already over the past 18 months, we have reduced our purchases of cod from the Eastern Baltic by one third. Those purchases we are still making are subject to our usual strict control measures and chain of custody audits, so we are confident that the fish we are buying is legally caught (in line with our sustainable fisheries approach and our ‘Ten Principles of Responsible Fish Procurement’).

We also support the efforts of the region’s leading supplier (Espersen) to independently audit its suppliers to ensure legal compliance (first results are due at the end of March 2007).

Depending on the outcome of current discussions and the EU decision on a multi-annual recovery plan, Young’s may choose to continue to purchase cod raw materials from the Eastern Baltic. It is possible that the influence of Young’s (as a major European processor with stringent management of the buying process) may influence fisheries managers to adopt a more precautionary approach to this stock and therefore contribute to the elimination of IUU fishing.

We are holding this issue under constant scrutiny and continue to seek independent scientific advice and engage with agencies and industry bodies in exploring all avenues to work for the recovery of the cod resource in the Eastern Baltic. However we will formally review our procurement policy again when the EU decision is made. Unless we then start to see evidence of stronger technical conservation measures and fisheries management, we will continue the process of withdrawal from this fishery.

Updated at 28 February 2007
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