PRESS RELEASE – Losing more than fish: EU recreational fishers rise as wild salmon vanishes

On 04 November, the European Parliament Recreational Fisheries and Aquatic Environment Forum hosted a high-level movie screening & policy debate dedicated to Emilie Björkman’s docufilm “A Baltic salmon requiem – FREE FALLING”

 

 

The event focused on the urgent need to safeguard the Baltic Sea’s ecosystem, particularly its wild salmon populations. It highlighted how communities whose livelihoods depend on healthy aquatic environments, angling tourism, and the related socio-economic benefits of this activity are being affected.
Recreational fisheries are a major stakeholder in the Baltic Sea region, generating an annual economic revenue of 1.917 million EUR and support approximately 15,656 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs, all with sustainable activities in the region’s marine & fresh waters(1).
The event was organised following the recent publication of the draft EU Parliament’s Own-Initiative Report (INI) “The multiannual plan for the Baltic Sea and ways forward” – amid a growing recognition at the EU level of the worrying state of Europe’s seas, rivers and fish stocks.
MEP Ms Heléne Fritzon (S&D, Sweden) opened the event underlining that “(The) documentary tells a story both beautiful and troubling. It reminds us that even after years of recovery, the wild Baltic salmon faces a new crisis (and that) what happens in our rivers and seas reflects much larger changes in our environment and climate.”
MEP Mr Niclas Herbst (EPP, Germany), co-chairing the event stated that “Today’s film reminds us that behind every policy proposal, there is people – families, anglers, and communities who care deeply about the waters they know best…let’s focus on what unites us – a determination to see the Baltic salmon swim freely once again, healthy and in good numbers. Let’s make this event not a requiem, but
a wake-up call”.
Four Members of the European Parliament from across the political spectrum2 participated in the event, expressing strong support to protect the Baltic Sea’s wild salmon populations, and revert the deteriorating state of the Baltic Sea. The screening was followed by a policy debate, chaired by MEP Niclas Herbst (EPP, Germany) featuring:
  • Ms Francesca Arena – Deputy Head of Cabinet of European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Mr Costas Kadis
  • MEP Michal Wiezik (Renew Europe, Slovakia)
  • MEP Emma Wiesner (Renew Europe, Sweden)
  • Emilie Björkman, movie director
  • Thomas Johansson – Baltic Salmon Fund – Secretary General; and
  • Kaare M. Ebert – European Anglers Alliance (EAA) representative
During the discussion, Ms Arena emphasized that Commissioner Kadis recognises the ongoing ecological crisis in the Baltic Sea, which threatens the socio-economic livelihoods of many remote communities – including those who rely on wild salmon in freshwaters. For this reason, Commissioner Kadis supports a rebuilding trajectory for the Baltic Sea, as reflected in the Commission’s Fisheries
Total Allowable Catches (TAC) proposal for 2026 and the request for scientific advice on how to implement and achieve this trajectory.” To conclude the roundtable discussion, Kaare M. Ebert (European Anglers Alliance) said “A part of people’s local cultural identity is restored again when salmon are back in a river valley… river fishing (for salmon) just in the Torne River (Sweden) creates 11 million
EUR per year, The Mörrum River (Sweden) 4,5 million € per year3, and a single salmon caught by recreational fishers at sea in Finland is worth 1.150 €4… But to create these social and economic values, we need salmon in rivers, we need proper fisheries management.”
Through this event, the European Parliament Recreational Fisheries and Aquatic Environment Forum calls for recreational fisheries to be recognised as a key partner in shaping a sustainable EU fisheries policy in the Baltic — uniting economic vitality, social value, and environmental responsibility. Building on these insights, the RecFishing Forum will work to amend the Fisheries Committee’s INI report to reflect these priorities.

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Footnotes

Pictures


Photo credits: Aliénor – 2025
From left to right: Kaare M. Ebert, Francesca Arena, Emilie Björkman, Thomas Johansson

Photo credits: Aliénor – 2025
From left to right: MEP Michal Wiezik, MEP Niclas Herbst, MEP Emma Wiesner, MEP Heléne Fritzon

 

Photo credits: Aliénor – 2025

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