On May 23rd, Bērzciems hosted the conference "How Can Fishermen Survive the Pitfalls of Green Bureaucracy," bringing together industry representatives, scientists, and government officials to discuss current challenges in coastal fisheries. Specialists from the LIFE REEF project also participated, contributing to the dialogue on the future of sustainable fisheries in Latvia.

Andris Širovs, Deputy Director General of the Nature Conservation Agency, presented on "Protection Against Seals and Current Issues in Determining Coastal Zone Restrictions." His presentation highlighted the need to balance nature conservation with fishing activities, focusing on the impact of seal populations on fish resources and the process of establishing coastal zone restrictions. The discussions sparked questions about effective methods to mitigate seal-induced losses and the search for a compromise between environmental protection and declining fishermen's profits.

Ivars Putnis, Head of the Fish Resources Research Department at the Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment "BIOR," emphasized the importance of close cooperation between science and fishermen in his presentation, "Fishermen and Scientists – Opportunities for Equal Cooperation." He noted that in the past year, coastal fishermen have been concerned about potential restrictions stemming from a political commitment to stricter protection of certain marine areas. Putnis explained that scientists are actively modeling possible scenarios and gathering data on the impact of coastal fishing on the marine ecosystem. He also mentioned that this year, in collaboration with coastal fishermen, "BIOR" specialists are actively participating in fishing as observers, collecting information on catches and bycatch. This research is expected to conclude early next year, providing valuable data for decision-making regarding marine area protection and fisheries regulation.

The conference served as an important forum for dialogue, enabling fishermen, scientists, and government representatives to discuss challenges and jointly seek solutions. Sustainable coastal fishing and effective marine ecosystem protection are only possible through close cooperation that considers both economic and ecological interests. It is hoped that such discussions and collaborative research will help ensure the preservation of Baltic Sea resources.