On 22–24 April 2026, an international meeting of the HELCOM FISH 7/2026 expert group on sustainable fisheries was held at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The meeting was attended by representatives of ministries and governmental agencies from most Baltic Sea countries: Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and Poland. Poland was represented by Ms Katarzyna Kamińska, Chief Specialist at the Inland Fisheries and Environment Unit of the Department of Fisheries, who was directly responsible for organising the meeting. NMFRI was represented by Dr. Katarzyna Nadolna-Ałtyn. Observers from the EU, BSAC, WWF, and the Coalition Clean Baltic were also present. On behalf of the Department of Fisheries, the participants were welcomed by the Deputy Director, Mr Adam Sudyk. The meeting focused on issues related to fisheries and the Baltic Sea.
The meeting began with a review of ongoing matters arising from the work of other HELCOM groups, the EU, BALTFISH, BSAC, and other organisations relevant to the HELCOM FISH working group. The aim was to identify key needs and directions for future action. The discussions covered, among other topics, a common approach to ecosystem-based fisheries management, finalisation of HELCOM recommendations concerning Atlantic salmon, issues related to monitoring and mitigation of bycatch of seabirds and marine mammals, as well as spatial conservation measures for marine habitats and species, and the planning of HELCOM activities in the field of sustainable aquaculture.
Katarzyna Nadolna-Ałtyn
Deliberations of the HELCOM FISH 7/2026 expert group on sustainable fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (photo: NMFRI).
Participants of the HELCOM FISH meeting in the courtyard of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (photo: HELCOM Secretariat).
