Baltic Sea environmental groups warn against higher fishing quotas

Environmental organizations and political figures are raising alarms regarding the deteriorating state of the Baltic Sea. Organizations including Stiftelsen för Östersjölaxen and ÖiS have cautioned EU fishing ministers against increasing fishing quotas for 2027. While some salmon populations in large Swedish and Finnish rivers showed improved migration in 2026, experts warn that smaller populations remain at critical levels and that increased pressure on wild salmon must be avoided.

Simultaneously, the Swedish Green Party (Miljöpartiet) has introduced a Baltic Sea package to address systemic ecological issues. The sea is facing severe challenges, including expanding oxygen-depleted and dead zones, plastic pollution, and rapid warming. Preliminary 2025 data indicates that approximately 21 percent of the seabed in the Baltic Proper, the Gulf of Finland, and the Gulf of Riga are completely oxygen-free, with an additional 13 percent suffering from low oxygen levels. The party emphasizes that agricultural runoff contributing to eutrophication and the collapse of fish stocks like cod must be addressed to ensure food security and environmental stability.