The Baltic Sea is facing one of the most serious crises in its history, with declining fish stocks, falling catches, and a shrinking fishing fleet. A new European Parliament report proposes making the Baltic a pilot region for ecosystem-based management, addressing not only fishing but also pollution, habitat degradation, species interactions, and human activity. According to Polish MEP Piotr Müller, however, the debate places too much blame on fishermen while overlooking other major factors, including wastewater pollution, chemical and conventional weapons dumped after World War II, and the impact of predators such as seals and cormorants on fish populations.

The report highlights the collapse of Baltic cod stocks and calls for urgent action, including reviewing fishing quotas and the existing Baltic management plan. Müller advocates a more balanced approach that protects both marine ecosystems and coastal jobs, including investments in wastewater treatment, cleanup of wartime munitions on the seabed, and more predictable multi-year fishing quotas. He warns that excessive restrictions could undermine food security and the viability of Poland’s fishing and fish-processing industries, which remain economically significant. The central challenge, the article argues, is finding a balance between environmental restoration and the long-term sustainability of coastal economies.

(300gospodarka.pl)