Risk of unsustainably-caught fish entering EU
For many years Russia has systemically implemented unilateral fishing opportunities for targeted cod, herring, and sprat fisheries in the Baltic Sea. Lithuania and other Baltic States have condemned these unsustainable fishing activities that undermine EU Member States’ joint efforts to rebuild the biological resources of this sea basin in line with scientific advice.
This article was featured in Eurofish Magazine 5 2024
In spring 2024 Lithuanian fisheries stakeholders noted that Russian fishing vessels were actively engaged in the targeted fishing of herring, cod, and sprat in the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation. This activity comes at a time when fishing is partly or completely prohibited in EU Baltic Sea waters. Targeted commercial fisheries for both eastern and western cod are prohibited for all EU vessels and cod may only be caught as unavoidable by-catch while fishing for other species. Lithuanian vessels caught only two tonnes of unavoidable by-catch cod in 2023 in contrast to Russia’s cod catches last year of 798 tonnes, and it is common knowledge that the Russian fleet in the Baltic Sea is expanding. There are also serious concerns among EU stakeholders that fish caught in the Baltic Sea, including cod, may enter the EU’s single market.
Calls for EU ban on Russian fish and seafood
Considering the gravity of the situation the Lithuanian government has since June 2024 banned imports of all fishery products as well as number of agricultural products originating in Russia and Belarus. Lithuania believes that these measures should be replicated at the EU level to eliminate any possibility of fisheries products originating from Russia entering the single market.
Lithuania raised the issue of the Russia’s actions in the Baltic Sea and the impact on the EU single market at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in June. Lithuania’s concerns were strongly supported including by all eight Baltic Sea Region countries, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece and Cyprus. Lithuania urged Member States to adopt a common position imposing a ban on imports from Russia and to deliberate on the potential extension of sanctions or trade restrictions at the EU level. Lithuania emphasised that access to the EU single market must be subject to conditions. It is a powerful tool to eliminate the possibility that Baltic Sea fish originating from Russia, as well as all fisheries products originating from the aggressor country well known also for low sustainability standards could reach the EU market. Lithuania invited EU Member States to encourage the European Commission to address the issue in a substantive way and to extend the Commission’s existing instruments. Lithuania also asked the commission to inform the EU Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers by October this year of the actions it intends to take.
Joint solution will have the most impact
As the new cycle of negotiations for fishing opportunities in 2025 begins, Lithuania will strongly advocate for this issue at the many upcoming meetings related to the negotiations and will actively seek solutions in partnership with other EU Member States and the European Commission.