Fishermen face ruin after EU experts say Baltic Sea fishing fleet is too large

Many Polish fishermen are facing financial ruin after European Union (EU) experts said that the Polish Baltic Sea fishing fleet is too large in comparison to the number of fish caught. The experts pointed out that each year, the International Commission of the Baltic Sea (MKMB) imposes ever stricter limits on fishing, in order to save stocks from extinction. Responding to the EU experts' comments, Zdzislaw Gandera, director of the Fisheries Department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that in the EU, coastal fishing is developed, with mainly small family businesses engaged in it. Suggesting that a similar approach could be applied in Poland, he went on, "These fishermen are allowed to fish without any limits in 12-mile coastal waters. Costs are low and the fish are sold at attractive prices to tourists and local restaurants. This fishing model can be adopted here, too." (Puls Biznesu, p. 8) A.K.