Poland and the Common Fisheries Policy Sectors, framework, policy matters „Fisheries policy in the EU and Poland – how does it work?” Fish Secretariat Workshop Gdańsk, February 2013

THE FISHERIES SECTOR IN POLAND (1/3) Baltic – cutters fleet Demersal sector – mainly cod and flounder fisheries Pelagic sector – sprat and herring fisheries Main characteristics: versatility as to the species caught, pelagic sector slowly modernizing towards RSW technology The fleet has undergone very extensive scrapping programmes since the EU accession in 2004; its capacity was reduced by ca. 40%; salmon and sea trout driftnetters’ fleet was scrapped completely Overall, the remaining fleet is very old, even compared to EU average, and in dire need of sustainable modernization Long-distance fleet 3 vessels but catches up to 80 thousand tons annually State-of-the-art vessels, very modern and efficient Active in North Atlantic, Western Africa, South Pacific and CCAMLR area Small-scale fleet Comprise almost 80% of the Baltic fleet Traditional fisheries dating back centuries, high priority and orientation Fishing for salmon and sea trout Freshwater species economically important (pike-perch, pike, roach) Total fleet : 798 vessels and boats, GT, kW (limit values) Total catches in 2011: 110 thousand tons

THE FISHERIES SECTOR IN POLAND (2/3) Freshwater Aquaculture Carp and trout are the main species; total production is ca. 18 thousand and 10 thousand tons respectively Extensive aquaculture with high added value for biodiversity in inland areas; „sources” of Natura 2000 areas Innovative species introduced into carp ponds Trout aquaculture developed successfully over the last 20 years Traditional activity dating back to XIIth century Innovation & development; first closed systems appearing Inland fishing; anadromous and catadromous species Annual catch of ca. 3 thousand tons Main species: bream, roach, pike, perch Conservation of sea trout, salmon and eel through re-stocking from national funds Angling is a favorite sport for ca. 1,5 million Poles Important progress has been made in re-introducing sturgeon into rivers and the Baltic. Sturgeon aquaculture is also developing successfully

THE FISHERIES SECTOR IN POLAND (3/3) Markets and processing Producer Organizations developing and gathering strength… …but still not enough connection to domestic market Very few market intevention cases Strong and modern processing sector, one of the key ingredients of Polish food market success Production: ca. 380 thousand tons per annum; exports mostly to the EU (Germany, France, UK, Denmark) Specializing in processed (salads and marinates), canned and smoked fish Science base Two renowned scientific institutions with almost 100 years’ tradition National Institute of Marine Fisheries Research (MIR) in Gdynia Institute of Inland Fisheries in Olsztyn Various research stations on the coast and on the inland

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK Fisheries Minister Secretary of State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Fisheries Director Overall and daily coordination Relations with stakeholders and science EU policy – general and high-level Deputy Director 1Deputy Director 2 Fisheries management Control and inspection - coordination Fisheries Monitoring Centre Fleet management Fisheries markets and processing EU funds: management, audit Aquaculture Inland fisheries Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture EU funds: implementation* Market intervention 16 Voivodship offices * Implementation of Axis 4 (sustainable development of fisheries areas) has been entrusted to Marshall Offices 3 Regional Sea Fisheries Inspectorates Local (harbor) Inspectorates Fisheries control and inspection (implementation) Daily administrative matters with fishers Mission statement Strictly implement applicable laws Manage fisheries and aquaculture responsibly Base management on science, focus on medium to long-term Facilitate sustainable development of the sector Adequately represent sector’s interests in the EU and the world

MAIN POLICY MATTERS (1/2) – CFP REFORM Basic regulation Promoting an in-depth reform from the very beginning… …but multiannual plans and RACs should remain as they are now Supportive of the main thrust of the reform as proposed by the Commission… …except mandatory TFCs Scrapping can yield very good results if properly designed and implemented MSY should be achieved quickly on the basis of solid science and discards reduced to absolute minimum… …but relative stability must remain intact and dramatic TAC cuts should be avoided whenever possible Regionalization is the way forward in terms of decision-making process Rules should be general, simple, easy to understand and to control Markets Strengthen the producer organizations in relation to other market players Empower them to co-responsibility Properly inform the consumer of what he/she is eating (and where it’s coming from) EMFF The Commission was a bit too progressive when eliminating most fleet aids Need to focus more on innovation, aquaculture development and inland fishing Administrative systems should be simplified and dramatic changes – avoided

MAIN POLICY MATTERS (2/2) Baltic affairs All commercially important fish stocks to be managed by multiannual plans Look more closely at interactions between the species and reflect them Our region should remain at the forefront of regionalization Work hard to further minimize discards Control and inspection must remain strong across the Baltic Make fishers fish for value, not for volume Continue dialogue on all important matters, do not treat fishers as environmental threat Aquaculture development Deal with the cormorants problem Further Improve market prospects for the main products Implement environmental directives so as aovid harming businesses Support innovation, both new species and new methods, including mariculture

HOW CAN WE BEST COOPERATE? We are ready to cooperate further and closer with our environmental partners… There are areas where our goals may be shared Let’s look at them together! …as long as mutual respect and understanding of one another’s priorities prevail