The Fisheries Secretariat
Help us save fish species
Many fish species are threatened in the Baltic Sea. This is something we want to change.
Our goal is well managed seas with rich biodiversity and thriving fish stocks to secure healthy and local seafood to consumers and a sustainable fishing sector.
Did you know that that the European eel population (Anguilla anguilla) has declined dramatically since the 1970s. In less than 50 years, it has gone from one of our largest, most widespread fishery resources to a critically endangered species.
With millions of glass eels still arriving at the European coast line, it is perhaps hard to imagine that it is threatened, but its distribution has shrunk and the population is down to somewhere around 1–10 % of earlier levels.
Changes in marine environments, damage to habitats, pollution, parasites, overfishing and a substantial illegal trade, as well as hydro-electric power turbines have all had a negative impact. European eel is also the focus of large-scale illegal trade, with glass eel trafficking now recognised as Europe’s greatest wildlife crime, targeted by Europol’s Operation Fame.
Let us help the eel and all other fish species that are threatened in the Baltic Sea.
Join us in our work for a sustainable fisheries.