The Impact of Reductions in the Polish Fishing Fleet on the Volume of Catch of the Main Species of Fish

Between 2003 and 2012, there was a reduction in the catch of the main species of fish. The main reason for this was the reduction of the fishing fleet. Additional factors, especially in the case of cod, included: inappropriate management of individual catch quotas, decrease in fishing profitability, and the obsolete, fragmented and non-modernized fishing fleet. An increase in the catch of the main species of fish, for which the resources actually allow, might result from improvements in the management of individual catch quotas, a closer cooperation between shipowners and the processing industry (with a view to increasing and stabilizing purchase prices) and modernization of the fishing fleet. Additionally, the catch quotas for cod could be used more efficiently if some of the herring-fishing units were redirected to fish for cod. This would additionally reduce the pressure on fishing for herring which has been a heavily exploited species in the recent years