Poland abandons demand for 200 mile Baltic Sea fishing exclusion zone

Poland has abandoned its claim to a 200-mile fishing exclusion zone, and accepted that European Union (EU) boats of up to 30 meters be permitted to fish in its Baltic Sea coastal waters. According to Deputy Agriculture Minister Robert Gmyrek, the offer is a major concession by Poland in its negotiations on EU accession. On the other hand, Poland has won a victory on the issue of fish sizes, with the EC agreeing to recommend that small sprats of 10 centimeters and herrings of 16 centimeters be included in the EU's interventional system of guaranteed prices. (Puls Biznesu, p. 12; Rzeczpospolita, p. B2) P.J.