Sea trout (Salmo trutta) in subdivisions 22–32 (Baltic Sea)

ICES advises that new data (landings and surveys) available for this stock do not change the perception of the stock status. Therefore, the advice for this stock in 2017 is the same as the advice for 2016. The assessment was not updated in 2016 but information on catches and indicators in 2015 is provided.

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, exploitation rates in the Gulf of Bothnia (subdivisions 30 and 31) should be reduced to safeguard the remaining wild sea trout populations in the region, both locally and on their migration routes. Fishing intensity should also be reduced in the eastern part of Subdivision 26 and in the southern parts of subdivisions 22 and 24. Reductions in exploitation rates should include all types of fishery, also fisheries for other species where sea trout are caught as bycatch. Management measures to help achieve exploitation reductions could include minimum mesh size for gillnets, minimum landing sizes, effort reductions, and temporal and areal fishing closures in the river mouths and in certain coastal areas.

Existing fishing restrictions (such as closed seasons, fishing closures at river mouths, minimum landing size, and minimum mesh sizes) in other Baltic Sea areas should be maintained.

Habitat improvements by restoration are needed and accessibility to spawning and rearing areas should be improved in many Baltic Sea rivers, to allow for recovery of sea trout populations.