BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Cod fishing can be increased by between 9 and 15 percent in the Baltic Sea next year, but the catch of Western Herring should be reduced by 21 percent, the European Commission said Thursday.
"The positive trend for Baltic Sea cod gives us confidence that the plan we have adopted to rebuild the stocks is working," said Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg.
"For herring, the stock is in a long term slump. Serious cuts in fishing possibilities are needed to stop overfishing this stock."
The Commission proposed a 15 percent increase in the allowable catch for eastern Baltic cod to 51,267 tonnes, and an increase of 9 percent for western Baltic cod to 17,700 tonnes.
The proposal will be discussed by EU member states at a fisheries council in October.
The Western Herring stock has continued to decline after a 2009 catch that exceeded scientific advice, and the 2010 catch must therefore be reduced 21 percent to 21,469 tonnes, the Commission said.
The sprat catch must be reduced by 15 percent to 339,960 tonnes, it said.
(Reporting by Pete Harrison, editing by Tim Pearce)
