On 23 July 2026, the European Commission adopted a delegated regulation renewing the high-survivability exemption from the landing obligation for salmon caught with trap nets and fyke nets in the Baltic Sea for the period 2027-2029. The exemption, based on a joint recommendation from Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland and Sweden, allows fishermen to discard up to 8% of their annual salmon catches in ICES subdivisions 22-31 and subdivision 32, provided the fish are released immediately. The regulation tightens the exemption by excluding pound nets and most pontoon traps unless fitted with a knotless bag or a water hold on the vessel, reflecting scientific advice that post-release survival rates for salmon in these gears are 70-75%.
The delegated regulation supplements the Common Fisheries Policy basic regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/1139) and follows a scientific evaluation by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), which on 9 March 2026 confirmed that discard rates remain low and the 8% cap is likely met. The exemption applies from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2029 and enters into force on the third day after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
The exemption primarily benefits Baltic Sea fishermen using trap nets and fyke nets, who can continue discarding a small proportion of salmon without penalty, reducing operational costs associated with landing unwanted catch. However, the exclusion of most pound nets and pontoon traps imposes new gear requirements, potentially increasing costs for fishermen using those gears. Environmental groups may view the exemption as a pragmatic measure that balances conservation with economic viability, given the high post-release survival rates. EU regulatory bodies and national authorities gain a clear, science-based framework for managing discards, though the 8% cap requires monitoring and enforcement to ensure compliance.