| BSAC input to BALTFISH High Level Group | The BSAC Executive Committee Chair was invited to take part in the BALTFISH High Level Group, online, on the 24th April 2023. The BSAC input was drafted based on the past and future BSAC meetings agendas and latest work of BSAC with BALTFISH. It was validated by the Executive Committee through written procedure. | 24/04/23 | BSAC Input |
| BSAC recommendation on harmonised implementation of legal rules in geographically close areas | The BSAC recommends that, in general, in geographically close areas, legal rules should be implemented in the same way in all Member States so that there is a transparent level playing field for all fishers, regardless of the location from where they operate in the concerned area. This is to prevent uneven conditions for fishers in different countries. Therefore, the BSAC recommends Member States to consult each other and find agreements so that they can ensure harmonised implementation of the rules at sea and in port. | 21/04/23 | Letter sent to BALTFISH Presidency |
| BSAC recommendations concerning the development of offshore windfarms and fisheries interactions | The recommendations have been adopted on the 5th April 2023, sent 11th April 2023. The BSAC Ecosystem Based Management Working Group, at its meetings held on 26th October 2022 and 17th February 2023, discussed the effects of offshore wind farms (OWF) on fisheries. The reports from these meetings are available on BSAC website. The recommendations were adopted by the BSAC ExCom through written procedure on 5th April 2023.
The BSAC recognises the importance of decarbonising the European energy system and the role of OWF in this endeavour. This political priority needs to follow strict guidance not to come at unbalanced expense of traditional activities such as commercial and recreational fisheries and livelihoods.
Commitments of the offshore wind farms renewable installation objectives are huge with regards to the Baltic Sea size and level of current activity at sea. Its specific conditions as a shallow and enclosed brackish sea with severely impacted ecosystems and poor environmental status also stresses the need for an even more precautionary approach to offshore windfarm developments. The BSAC has formulated 5 consensus recommendations. | 11/04/23 | The recommendations Answer from the Commission |
| BSAC comments BALTFISH draft JR: Control of measures to prevent harbour porpoise bycatch | The BSAC membership was consultedon the draft Joint Recommendation, and we received comments from 5 members (detailed in the Annex of the letter).
The short deadline did not allow for a BSAC meeting dedicated to this topic. | 24/03/23 | BSAC letter and annex |
| BSAC comments on additional document for BALTFISH draft Joint Recommendation on Salmon LO derogation | BSAC comments on the additional document from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) to complement BALTFISH draft Joint Recommendation regarding a derogation from the landing obligation in the Baltic Sea establishing a discard plan as regards salmon in the Baltic Sea (ICES Subdivisions 22-32) The BSAC Executive Committee was consulted and asked if they wanted to raise further comments from the ones sent to BALTFISH on the 27th October 2022 on the same draft Joint Recommendation. | 22/02/23 | The BSAC sent a letter The BSAC attached input received from members organisations |
| InterAC Letter on COM support for AC work | Letter to the European Commission regarding support and promotion of the work of the ACs, co-signed by all Advisory Councils. ExCom approved the letter and it was jointly sent on the 3rd February 2023. | 03/02/23 | The Letter |
| Western Baltic herring- follow-up | The BSAC replied to a letter exchange dating from December 2022 addressing the issue of Western Baltic Herring. It asked if the BSAC recommendations (1) to use the EU MultiAnnual Plan (MAP) for the Baltic Sea to act as a rebuilding plan and (2) to request ICES to put the EU MAP advice as its headline advice for 2024 were still considered by the Commission. The Commission answered on the 25.07.2023, explaining that the decision of the Council on the management of Western Baltic spring spawning herring in the Baltic for 2023 was based on the Baltic MAP. Pursuant to Article 5(2) in conjunction with Article 4(4) of the Baltic MAP, the Council kept closed the directed fishery and set a TAC for unavoidable by-catches.
The Commission further explained that they are currently focusing on incentivizing spatial-temporal measures aimed at alleviating the fishing pressure on the stock given its intermixing with North Sea autumn spawning herring.
There are no discussions today on a rebuilding plan with UK and Norway for this stock since these countries do not consider themselves responsible for the management of the stock. The Commission expressed the view that the development of a rebuilding plan should be handled as a domestic management issue. | 31/01/23 | The Letter The Commissions response |
| BSAC Input to the European Parliament PECH Committee Hearing on Baltic MAP | The BSAC Executive Committe Chair was invited to present the BSAC position on the Baltic Sea MultiAnnual Plan to the European Parliament Fisheries (PECH) Committee Hearing on the 23rd January. | 23/01/23 | PECH Committee Hearing Programme BSAC Input (23/01/23) BSAC report of the Hearing (23/01/23) BSAC report of the Fisheries Committee (24/01/23) Thank you letter from the Chair of the Committee (02.02.2023) BSAC Chair Invitation of Fisheries Committee members to BSAC meetings in May (21/02/23) |
| BSAC letter invitation to launch of EFCA’s new chartered patrol vessels | Sent date:30/12/2022 | Reply date:25/01/2023 | 30/12/22 | |
| BSAC Input to the Commissioner’s Roundtable meeting | Sent date:06/12/2022 | Reply date:16/12/2022 | 06/12/22 | |
| BSAC recommendation on BALTFISH Presidency Work Plan | Sent date:18/11/2022 | Reply date: | 18/11/22 | |
| BSAC recommendations on western Baltic herring | Sent date:28/10/2022 | Reply date:18/11/2022 BSAC recommendation on western Baltic Herring, in response to the Commission invitation to provide further explanations. It has been proposed and drafted by the Pelagic WG and approved by writing by the BSAC Executive Committee. Letter Reply from the Commission | 28/10/22 | BSAC letter COM reply |
