Report on eastern baltic cod bycatch in non-targeted fisheries, mixing with western baltic cod in SD24, and stock situation in SDS 27-32

1. Bycatch of Eastern Baltic cod in non-targeted fisheries 1a.Total cod bycatch in 2018 was in the range of 360-1306 *tonnes in subdivisions 25-32 (eastern stock) and 66-417* tonnes in subdivision 24 (eastern and western stock combined). The ranges correspond to different bycatch thresholds from 10 to 50% cod in the landings in a fishing trip. These cod bycatch amounts correspond to fishing patterns in 2018 when cod was a target species, and fishers did not attempt to avoid catching cod. 1b. Bycatch of cod in demersal trawl fisheries for flatfish could be substantially reduced when applying selectivity devices in fishing gear. Three selectivity strategies are possible: i) species specific size selection, ii) selection by behavioural differences of the species and iii) a strategy that combines i and ii. Strategy i can be efficient to reduce bycatch of small but not larger cod, while strategies ii and iii can be applied to minimise bycatches of cod at all sizes in targeted flatfish fisheries. 1c. Cod and flounder overlap in the entire distribution area of the eastern Baltic cod stock; plaice and eastern Baltic cod overlap in subdivisions 24-25. Therefore, there are no areas or months where flatfish fisheries with non-selective gears could be conducted in subdivisions 24-26 without a risk of bycatch of cod. Only a small fraction of EU flatfish landings were taken in subdivision 26 in later years (6% of flounder landings in 2018). Therefore, a potential closure of subdivision 26 for demersal fisheries would have limited implications for EU flatfish fisheries, while protecting a substantial part of the eastern Baltic cod stock...