Over PLN 3 billion for fisheries. Will Polish fishermen benefit from this?

Over PLN 3.1 billion is expected to go to Poland under the European Fisheries Funds programme for 2021–2027. The measures are intended to support fisheries, aquaculture, fish processing, local communities and environmental projects.

However, this does not change the fact that Polish sea fishing has been facing a deep crisis for two decades, which has been symbolized by further programmes to phase out boats.

European Fisheries Fund 2021-2027

The European Fisheries Fund programme is financed by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and by national resources. Its budget amounts to nearly EUR 732 million, or over PLN 3.1 billion. About 70% of this amount comes from the European Union budget, while the remainder comes from the state budget.

The programme is formally intended to support sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, processing of fish products and the development of local marine and inland water communities. In practice, this means both investment in the modernisation of economic activities and financing of environmental, educational and local projects. development initiatives.

Modernisation, aquaculture and processing

Part of the money is intended to improve the competitiveness of the fishing sector. Support includes, inter alia, modernisation of fishing vessels, improving working conditions, investments in ports, reducing energy consumption and increasing maritime safety.

Considerable resources are also to be allocated to aquaculture, namely farming and fish farming. Entrepreneurs may apply for support for modernisation of farms, purchase of equipment, improvement of energy efficiency or implementation of water-saving solutions. The scheme also includes fish processing, including the purchase of machinery, modernisation of plants and the placing of new products on the market.

Fishermen have already paid a high price

The most sensitive point of the program is the way to talk about the "benefits for fishermen". It sounds like the sector is entering a peaceful period of modernisation. Meanwhile, for many people of the sea, EU funds are also of second importance.

It's worth looking at the history of the last two decades. After Poland entered the European Union, the mechanisms for adapting the fleet to the Baltic resources and the principles of the Common Fisheries Policy were launched. In practice, this meant, inter alia, the permanent decommissioning of fishing vessels, namely the scrapping of boats for financial compensation.

This was not a margin for fishing policy, but one of its essential elements. According to ARiMR, the payments for the scrapping of fishing vessels under the Fisheries and Fish Processing Programme 2004-2006 exceeded PLN 344 million. For the administration, it was a fishing effort reduction instrument. For many families from the coast – the end of working at sea, the sale of the acquis of life and the gradual disappearance of the profession, which for years co-founded the local economy.

The unit withdrawal mechanism is not just a history of years ago. Also in the current perspective, money is provided for the permanent cessation of fishing activities, namely the scrapping or retraining of fishing vessels. The programme therefore has two figures: it finances modernisation, aquaculture and processing, but it still contains tools that may mean the departure of more shipowners from the market.

For a fisherman, such funding is not always the beginning of a new stage. Sometimes it is the last salary for a boat, work at sea and profession, which for years created the economic and social landscape of the Polish coast.

Maritime municipalities and local economy

The programme also includes support for the Fisheries Local Action Groups, local governments, NGOs and cultural institutions. Funding may be allocated to tourist infrastructure, educational paths, memory chambers, projects promoting fishing heritage and the development of local entrepreneurship.

For coastal municipalities, this could be a real opportunity to diversify income and better exploit local potential. However, it must be fairly said that the development of tourism or educational projects will not replace the fully lost fishing activity. It may complement it, but it will not automatically rebuild traditional coastal fishing.

Environmental protection and maritime security

Part of this appropriation will be used to protect the aquatic environment. The programme provides for the funding of ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, the removal of lost fishing gear from waters and the construction of fish migration gears.

Activities related to maritime monitoring and improved maritime safety are also important. Projects for collecting marine data, maritime surveillance and cooperation of water safety services may receive funding.

Money is needed, but they don't solve everything.

Over PLN 3.1 billion is a significant amount.. It can help modernise parts of the sector, support aquaculture, processing and local communities. However, this programme should not be presented as a simple breakthrough for Polish fishermen.

Polish sea fishing is much weaker today than two decades ago. Its condition is determined not only by EU funds, but also by the state of Baltic resources, catch limitations, operating costs, the lack of successors in the profession and the cost-effectiveness of working at sea. Therefore, the new measures may be important support but do not reverse the effects of the multiannual reduction of the fleet.

For coastal towns, the most important will be not the mere issue of money, but the direction of their use. If the measures are mainly used to further expire fishing activities, they will be the next stage of the descent of Polish fishing from the market. If they help maintain some of the active shipowners, develop aquaculture, processing and local economic facilities, they can reduce the impact of the crisis growing for years.