Fish for Life in Action - Case Study 1

Contributing to improvement in the Eastern Baltic Cod Fishery

Background

There are two distinct cod stocks in the Baltic Sea (Eastern and Western). Until January 2006, both were managed as a single unit by a multi-national coalition of Baltic coastal states. In 2004 the EU was able to take over management of the fishery following the accession of the Baltic States to the EU. The Eastern and Western Baltic are now managed as two separate stocks under a bi-lateral agreement between the EU and Russia, with the EU accounting for about 90% of the total fishery.

In the years prior to these changes, the sustainability of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery was threatened by extensive IUU (illegal, unreported and uncontrolled) fishing – estimated by 2005 to be as much as 30-40% of the fish caught legally. It is not possible to manage a fishery sustainably unless IUU activity can be controlled.

What was our contribution?

Because of the importance of the Baltic in world cod supply, Young’s (part of the Findus Group) chose as part of its Fish for Life approach to try and intervene and use its market influence to help drive positive change in the Eastern Baltic fishery.

Working with its major partner in the region, Espersens, Young’s began a process of dialogue in the region. A key moment was March 2007, when Young’s procurement director (Simon Rilatt) spoke at the conference of the Baltic Sea Regional Advisory Council (RAC) in Copenhagen , attended by all the Baltic States’ fishery ministers. Simon Rilatt delivered a strong call for more precautionary management and announced that the Findus (then Foodvest) Group had already reduced its purchases of cod from the Baltic by 35%. The fundamental message was that the Group – a major European fish buyer through its Young’s and Findus brands – would withdraw completely from the fishery if change was not brought about.

At the end of the conference a signed declaration to fight IUU – known as the Copenhagen Declaration - was signed by all the attending fishery ministers. Young’s and Espersens then jointly drafted an AIPCE Control Document detailing the measures required to control IUU and return the fishery to stability. Based on this document, in September 2007 the EC agreed a new fishery management plan.

Outcomes?

Since the implementation of the management plan, ICES scientists have observed that the fishery is in an upward trend – with the spawning biomass (i.e. population of mature adult fish) having doubled in size since 2005 and being in 2008 at its highest level in 20 years. A new report issued in June 2009 by ICES confirmed a major improvement in one of Europe’s key cod fisheries, the Eastern Baltic. IUU is now just 6% of the total catch - a massive turnaround.

ICES has also confirmed that the management plan in place for the Eastern Baltic cod fishery is in line with its recommended precautionary approach and has advised an increased total allowable catch (TAC) of 15% can be made when quotas are next set in December 2009.

The Baltic fishery also received a further boost in August 2009 when Espersens (a major supplier to Young’s and the Findus Group), jointly announced with the Danish Fishermen’s Association that it would support a process of full MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certification for the eastern Baltic Cod stock.

In September 2009, Greenpeace released commentary acknowledging the improvement in the Baltic fishery, saying, “We also believe that the processing industry has played a significant role in IUU reductions, and to help politicians respect scientific quota advice.”

Leendert den Hollander, chief executive of Young’s Seafood Limited says, “As a major purchaser of Baltic fish, it was imperative that we engaged with the industry to improve the unacceptably high levels of IUU. Our business was able to play a significant role by raising awareness of the issue, lobbying for change at the highest levels and by putting commercial pressure on the fishery to improve. But we didn’t just shout for improvement, we then helped to define the technical processes required to deliver it, alongside Espersens who deserve great credit for the proactive role they played".

“The fact that such a turnaround has been achieved in the Baltic also lends encouragement to other European fishery recovery plans. There is much still to do to continue to drive improvement. But this story goes to show that by encouraging and leading change with our partners, we can help to effect positive change in the world’s fisheries.”

April 2011 Update: The Eastern Baltic cod fishery has now achieved Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. Find out more here at the MSC's website.