A new amendment tabled by The Left group in the European Parliament calls for a complete prohibition on fishing for all life stages of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in the Baltic Sea. The amendment, published on 12 May 2026 as part of the report on the multiannual plan for the Baltic Sea (A10-0121/2026), directly challenges current management approaches by demanding a zero-catch policy aligned with scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
The amendment package consists of two changes. Amendment 8 introduces a new recital stating that the European eel remains critically endangered, its presence in the Baltic Sea has steadily decreased, ICES continues to advise zero catches in all habitats, and the agency reports no or limited overall progress in recovery. Amendment 9 calls on Member States and the European Commission to effectively enforce a prohibition on fishing for all life stages of the eel in the Baltic Sea, covering glass eels, yellow eels, and silver eels.
The Left group's maximalist conservation stance contrasts with the likely positions of other political groups, which have not tabled amendments on this specific issue. The absence of amendments from the EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA, and ECR groups may indicate satisfaction with the current text, a preference for less stringent measures, or a focus on other aspects of the broader report. The amendments imply a divergence from the Commission's existing approach, which allows for regulated eel fisheries despite scientific warnings.
EU eel fishers and related businesses in the Baltic Sea region would face a complete loss of fishing opportunities, with potential economic consequences for coastal communities. EU consumers would lose access to locally caught eel, a traditional food product. Environmental NGOs and conservation groups would welcome the measure as necessary to prevent extinction. National authorities in Baltic Member States would bear the enforcement burden and may face resistance from fishing communities. The proposal represents a trade-off between short-term economic activity and long-term species survival, with ICES advising that zero catches are the only scientifically sound option to allow recovery.
The amendments will be debated and voted on in plenary as part of the Lövin report. If adopted, they would strengthen the Parliament's position ahead of any potential dialogue with the Commission and Council on Baltic Sea fisheries management. The report is an own-initiative procedure (2024/2127(INI)), meaning it sets out Parliament's recommendations but does not directly amend EU law.
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