RoC – Return of the Cod
As a top predator, cod is the most important predatory fish in the Baltic Sea ecosystem. There are two cod stocks in the Baltic Sea – the eastern and western stocks – which have been in decline for a long time. Although there is a wealth of knowledge and data on cod in the Baltic Sea, the trend and the poor state of the stocks have nevertheless taken the scientific community by surprise.
Cod in the Baltic Sea used to be one of the world’s largest cod populations, but today the stocks consist of small, slender individuals in poor condition. The largest cod, which keep other fish species in check, are becoming increasingly scarce, with consequences for both the ecosystem and local fisheries.
Many measures are needed to restore viable cod stocks, both for the sake of the Baltic Sea and for local fisheries. The existing fishing ban on the eastern cod stock is not sufficient; instead, an ecosystem-based approach is needed to ensure that cod also have the necessary food supply in the future.
The “Roc – Return of the Cod” project aims to identify and compile appropriate measures to restore the Baltic Sea cod stock and communicate the results to stakeholders. The aim is to act as a bridge between science and policy when the proposed measures are communicated.
“Roc – Return of the Cod” is being implemented by FishSec in collaboration with Environmental Action Germany, Estonian Fund for Nature, Pasaules Dabas Fonds, Lithuanian Fund for Nature, Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, The Danish Sportsfishing Association, WWF Poland and BalticWaters. The project is funded by Postkodstiftelsen and FishSec.
Projektmaterial
Report: The Decline of Cod in the Baltic Sea (2022-02-04)