Latvian authorities have decided that coastal fishing will continue without restrictions in specially protected marine areas, despite concerns from fishermen regarding new conservation plans.
In Latvia, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) has announced that coastal fishing will proceed as usual in specially protected marine areas, following a halt in the development of a new marine protection plan last year due to significant objections from local fishermen and coastal residents. The plan faced criticism from fishermen who argued that proposed bans would jeopardize their livelihoods and severely limit the coastal tourism industry. Advocates for the environment had raised concerns over the potential impacts of fishing on local biodiversity, specifically regarding seabird nesting periods.
In December, to address these competing interests, VARAM decided to suspend the progression of the newly drafted marine protection plan. Local fishing groups, particularly the association
