Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in Subdivision 32 (Gulf of Finland)

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, commercial sea catches in 2024 should be no more than 11 800 salmon. This assumes that the amount of hatchery reared salmon released in 2023 does not decrease compared to previous years and that spatial and seasonal fishing patterns do not change. Applying the same catch proportions as those estimated to have occurred in 2021, this would correspond to reported commercial landings of 10 100 salmon.

Fisheries-related mortality on wild salmon from all wild and mixed (rivers with both hatchery-reared and wild salmon) rivers in the Gulf of Finland should be as low as possible. Salmon in the Gulf of Finland are a mix of local wild and reared populations. Measures to focus the fishing effort on reared salmon should be maintained. Such measures could include seasonal regulations and/or the relocation of coastal fisheries away from sites likely to be on the migration paths of Gulf of Finland wild salmon. Relocation of fisheries away from those rivers and river mouths that support wild stocks and mixed stocks (rivers with both hatcher-reared and wild salmon) must be maintained.

ICES advises that there should be zero catch of wild salmon in the weak river Luga.

Wild salmon returning to rivers should be protected from poaching. 

ICES advises that fin clipping of hatchery reared salmon should continue.

ICES notes that the advice for Gulf of Finland salmon applies to several genetically distinct stocks, some of which are below 50% potential smolt production capacity. ICES is working to provide guidance on how to better align this advice with the ICES approach to fishing opportunities which integrates the precautionary approach with the objective of obtaining maximum sustainable yield.