Poland hopes for Baltic cod-fisheries reprieve

Poland hopes that a ban on cod catches for Polish fishermen in the Baltic Sea will be lifted early, in the light of fears over its effects on Poland’s maritime economy.

The ban was imposed unilaterally by the European Commission in July, when fisheries inspections suggested that Poland had already exhausted its 2007 cod fishing quota. The Polish eastern Baltic cod fishery traditionally closes in July and August, but was due to open again this Saturday (15 September).

In a letter to Joe Borg, the European fisheries commissioner, the new Polish Maritime Economy Minister Marek Gróbarczyk invited Borg to Warsaw before 15 September to review the ban. He promised to "take all possible measures foreseen in legislation to ensure the proper functioning of fishing controls systems in the Baltic Sea in order to combat the illegal and unreported fishing".

Gróbarczyk was to meet Borg last Friday (7 September) but cancelled the trip, citing urgent national business.

A spokeswoman for Borg said that the commissioner would be unable to take up the invitation, due to "a very heavy schedule this autumn", but that talks were under way to find an alternative date.

The Commission said that it had received in late August a Polish response to legal action over alleged violations of EU catch quotas, contradicting an earlier claim that Poland had missed the reply deadline.

In its response, Poland said that it had decided to cut the number of fishing ports for large cod landings from 14 to five, making it easier to carry out inspections. Poland also said it was improving IT inspection systems and increasing the number of fisheries control staff.

The Commission said it was studying the response carefully and could make no comment at this stage.

Poland hopes that a ban on cod catches for Polish fishermen in the Baltic Sea will be lifted early, in the light of fears over its effects on Poland’s maritime economy.