Trawling for trouble

Poland could soon find itself in hot water over its fishing policies, the EU is warning. Last week the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Joe Borg, said that the country could face legal action and quota cuts if it refuses to comply with EU regulations.

This summer the European Commission ordered Poland to cease cod trawling in the area of the eastern Baltic on the basis that it had exceeded its quota and misreported its catches. The Polish government, in turn, said that it would not fine fisherman for ignoring the ban. It also challenged the EC's decision, claiming that it had been based on unreliable data.

"Poland quite significantly exhausted its quota, so we closed the fishery as they were not prepared to do it themselves," Borg said. "We ordered a closure and it is not being respected."

The EC is weighing potential penalties for Poland's defiance. One possibility would be to file a lawsuit at the European Court of Justice seeking an injunction against Polish fishermen, with large fines for transgressors.

Further reduction of next year's catch quota is another avenue. "Poland continues to overfish and we are watching how much they fish ... so next year's quota will be less. If a member state overfishes, it might also find that some Community ports are closed to it for landings," Borg said.

Poland is not the only country under fire from the EU Fisheries Commission. Late last month it opened infringement procedures against Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain for failing to report catch data. Unlike Poland, however, none of the countries have voiced open defiance of EU rules. (Reuters)