Catch limits, illogical regulations and lack of government support – these are the biggest problems faced by coastal fishermen. They announce that if the government does not take their issues seriously, they will start a protest.
Coastal fisheries face many problems. They also depend on the region where the fishermen live. Fishermen from the Vistula Lagoon face different problems than those who fish at sea. We talk about the biggest problems of fishermen in the Vistula Lagoon with Teresa Ruksztełło, vice-president of the Vistula Lagoon Fishermen’s Association.
If there was no help, there is no help
Farmer: The Vistula Lagoon is a very specific fishing region. What problems are you facing here?
Teresa Ruksztełło: In the Vistula Lagoon, the biggest problem at the moment is the issue of the temporary cessation of activities. I believe that we, on the Vistula Lagoon, have been harmed by the low daily parking rate, which was calculated by the ministry based on an algorithm. Now it turns out that we have already implemented this program, and subsequent work on changing it to move away from this algorithm will result in us losing money financially. We are talking about PLN 200 to PLN 500 a day. We cannot accept that the ministry is implementing actions that are not fully thought out and not fully fair towards every fisherman. I will repeat it for the second time, we are wronged by this temporary cessation of activities, the amount of compensation has been agreed. Yes, I am in favor of change, but let’s make these changes together, properly, so that they are not harmful and support fishing.
Absurd goni absurd
Another big problem is the deadline in which the so-called meanwhile it has been introduced. Why?
I have constantly argued and signaled in parliamentary committees that this date is inappropriate. We submitted a proposal for a different period, but Mrs. Zasępa (Magdalena Zasępa – director of the fisheries department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development – editor’s note) insisted that this was an extension of eel protection. We came up with a proposal to change these dates. If there is protection from September 15, let’s do it from August 15 and then fishermen will have an easier time to cope economically, because in spring they will catch zander, herring or perch and this way they can survive until autumn. However, this alternative was not taken into account by the ministry.
Speaking of parking, the topic of completely ceasing operations also comes up. Here, absurdity follows absurdity.
A fisherman who wants to resign has the option and receives compensation for it, but here further absurdities appear.
We have been raising the issue all along, from the very beginning, that a fisherman who wants to leave the profession, i.e. permanently stop fishing, should do so. There are various factors contributing to this: health, economic, retirement is approaching, so let these people take advantage and let this aid be paid. So far, these funds have been blocked for five months. Recruitment took place in December, today it’s April and these funds haven’t started yet. Fishermen are outraged because they want to leave their profession, let them have the right to do so and let them take advantage of it. Why are these funds blocked? Why such a long time? Even aid for the temporary cessation of activity, which is currently being introduced, has a six-month grace period. The fishermen won’t survive this.
Withdrawn funds are one thing. Another problem is the conditions that must be met to benefit from this support.
Every fisherman who decides to permanently cease fishing activities must demonstrate activity at sea, which means that he has 180 days to go out at sea for two years. How can a fisherman do this with prohibitions? Where is the ban preventing him from sailing these days? Secondly, it incurs costs if it even forces itself to make these cruises in order to meet the requirements – it has to pay an employee, it has to spend on fuel, this is an incomprehensible, absurd approach to the topic of our serious fishing matters. I believe our voices should be heard now.
The minister is open to dialogue, but for now we are at a standstill. Yes, I am also in favor of talks, but they should be constructive and bring some positive solutions for fishermen.
What is the situation with fishing bans?
In addition to cod and salmon, and currently also eel, there is even talk of a ban on herring. We are facing a total ban on eel fishing, and there are concerns about stopping herring fishing in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea, so we are talking about a disaster. We won’t be able to cope without support, and the money from the 2021-2027 fund is still not released, at least not for fishermen, because it is spent, for example, on the promotion of fish whose fishing is currently prohibited, such as cod. Why do we promote banned fish? Who benefits from this? And the fisherman has been standing still, without any support, for several years now. Where’s the logic in this?
Thank you for the conversation.
