Fishing in the Baltic. EU countries have decided

EU agriculture and fisheries ministers agreed on fishing quotas for the Baltic Sea for 2027, rejecting proposed cuts for western herring and both cod species. The European Commission aimed to reduce bycatch limits significantly, but Poland opposed these cuts. The agreement maintains current bycatch levels for these species while increasing central herring quotas by 71% and sprat quotas by 44%. A total ban on commercial fishing for western herring and both cod species remains in place due to their poor status, with limits for incidental catches unchanged from this year. Poland's request for exceptions for small boats fishing for western herring was accepted, and recreational cod fishing bans will continue to support stock recovery.