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

New available data (landings and surveys) did not change the perception of the sea trout stocks in the Baltic Sea. Therefore, the advice for 2014 is the same as the advice for 2013:

ICES advises on the basis of precautionary considerations that exploitation rates in the Gulf of Bothnia (ICES Subdivisions 30 and 31) and the Gulf of Finland (ICES Subdivision 32) should be reduced to safeguard the remaining wild sea trout populations in the region, both locally and on their migration routes. Additional management measures for Subdivisions 30–32 should be considered, in particular to address bycatch of sea trout. These could include minimum mesh size for gillnets, effort limitations, fishing bans at river mouths, minimum legal landing sizes, and closures in time and space.

Existing fishing restrictions in ICES Subdivisions 22–29 (for example closed season, fishing bans at river mouths, minimum landing size, and minimum mesh sizes) should be maintained. Habitat improvements by restoration are needed and accessibility to spawning and rearing areas should be improved in many rivers.