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National reports concerning the Baltic Green Belt (the coastal zone) – Poland Coalition Clean Baltic 2010
National reports concerning
the Baltic Green Belt (the
coastal zone) – Poland
Coalition Clean Baltic
2010
LIST OF CONTENTS
1. Background information ......................................................................................................
1.1. Country ............................................................................................................................
1.2. Length and type of coast line ..........................................................................................
2. Different types of interests affecting the Baltic Green Belt .................................................
2.1. Financial ..........................................................................................................................
2.1.1. Harbours and maritime transport ...................................................................................
2.1.2. Oil-terminals and gas-terminals ......................................................................................
2.1.3. Factories ..........................................................................................................................
2.1.4. Industrial farms ...............................................................................................................
2.1.5. Tourism ...........................................................................................................................
2.1.6. Transport .........................................................................................................................
2.1.7. Fishery .............................................................................................................................
2.2. Private settlements close to the water ...........................................................................
2.3. Military infrastructure .....................................................................................................
3. Nature protection .................................................................................................................
3.1.1. Protected areas ...............................................................................................................
3.1.2. Unprotected areas ..........................................................................................................
3.1.3. Nature 2000 areas ...........................................................................................................
4. History and culture ...............................................................................................................
4.1. Introduction to historical and cultural background ........................................................
4.2. Historic and cultural heritage ..........................................................................................
5. Existence of Management Plans ...........................................................................................
5.1. For financial interests ......................................................................................................
5.1.1. National level ..................................................................................................................
5.1.2. Regional level ..................................................................................................................
5.1.3. Local level ........................................................................................................................
5.2. For environmental interests ............................................................................................
3.2.1 National level ..................................................................................................................
3.2.2 Regional level ..................................................................................................................
3.2.3 Local level ........................................................................................................................
5.3. For the interest of history and culture ............................................................................
5.3.1. National level ..................................................................................................................
5.3.2. Regional level ..................................................................................................................
5.3.3. Local level ........................................................................................................................
6. Environmental Impact Assessment .......................................................................................
6.1. EIA legally enforcement ..................................................................................................
6.2. Regularity of EIA carried out ...........................................................................................
7. Investments and enterprises on the Polish coast – good and bad examples .......................
7.1. Good examples ...............................................................................................................
7.2. Bad examples (including Hot spots) ................................................................................
8. Suggestions for management improvements .......................................................................
8.1. Best possible solutions ....................................................................................................
8.2. Steps of possible improvement .......................................................................................
8.2.1. Need immediately ...........................................................................................................
8.2.2. Need in the near future ..................................................................................................
9. Literature ..............................................................................................................................
1. Background information
1.1. Country
Poland (Pol. Polska), officially Republic of Poland (Pol. Rzeczpospolita Polska) is a coun-
try situated in Central Europe. Poland occupies an area of 322 575 km2 (includes area of internal
waters – 2004 km2 and territorial waters – 8682 km2), making it the largest country in the re-
gion and 68th largest country in the world (the 9th largest in Europe and the 5th largest in the
Baltic Sea catchment area). The maximum distance from east to west is about 689 km, whereas
the maximum distance from north to south is about 649 km. The population of Poland is about
38.48 million people (2009), which makes it the 34th most populous country in the world and 8th
in Europe.
The country borders with Germany (467 km) in the west, the Czech Republic (796 km)
and Slovakia (541 km) in the south, the Ukraine (535 km), Belarus (418 km) and Lithuania (143
km) in the east, and with Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast, 210 km) in the north. The country is bor-
dered by the Baltic Sea (Pol. Bałtyk) in the north (the length of a sea-border is 440 km). Poland
also shares its marine borders with Denmark and Sweden.
Fig. 1. Map of Poland (source: www.maps.com)
Most of Poland is a plain (part of the North European Plain) with number of distinct par-
allel regions, which extend horizontally, as well as with no natural boundaries, aside from the
Carpathian Mountains (Pol. Karpaty) in the south and the Odra (the second biggest river in Po-
land, with length 854 km and 118.8 thous. km² of basin area) and Neisse (Pol. Nysa Łużycka)
rivers in the west. Other major rivers, important also to commerce, are the Vistula (Pol. Wisła,
the longest one – 1 047 km, basin area – 168.7 thous. km²), Warta (808 km), and Bug (772).
Although most of the Polish rivers flow into the Baltic Sea, several of them drain to the Black
Sea.
Fig. 2. Map of geographical regions of the country (source: www.encyklopedia.interia.pl)
The north Poland is mainly plain, but with quite varied topography, rich in moraines and
post-glacial lakes formed during and after the Pleistocene ice age. In Europe only Finland has
greater number of lakes than Poland. Most of the Polish lakes are situated in three lake dis-
tricts: Pomeranian Lake District (Pol. Pojezierze Pomorskie), the Greater Poland Lake District
(Pol. Pojezierze Wielkopolskie) and the Masurian Lake District (Pol. Pojezierze Mazurskie). The
largest of over 9 300 Polish lakes – Sniardwy (113.8 km2) and Mamry (104.4 km2) – are located
in the north-east part of Poland. The deepest one is Hancza (108.5 m). The lowest point, Raczki
Elbląskie, is located also in north Poland, in the Vistula Depression (Pol. Żuławy Wiślane), and
goes up to 1.8 meter below sea-level.
The middle part of Poland is covered by generally flat and monotonous the central low-
lands, divided by the main rivers basins into the Silesian Plain (Pol. Nizina Śląska), the Great Po-
land Plain (Pol. Nizina Wielkopolska), the Mazovian Plain (Pol. Nizina Mazowiecka) and the Pod-
lasian Plain (Pol. Nizina Podlaska).
The south part of the country is covered by mountain ranges, highlands and foothills.
The highest mountains of Poland (with the altitude of the country – Rysy peak, that rises 2499
meters above sea-level), and also of all Carpathian range (Pol. Karpaty), are Tatras (Pol. Tatry).
Other ranges are the Sudetes (Pol. Sudety), Holy Cross Mountains (Pol. Góry Świętokrzyskie),
Beskids (Pol. Beskidy), Karkonosze and Bieszczady (last three mountains ranges are part of the
Carpathians).
The climate of Poland is temperate with wet, cloudy, cold, moderately severe winters
with frequent precipitation and rainy (frequent showers and thundershowers), mild summers.
The average temperature in summer ranging between 16.5 – 20°C, while in winter between -6
– 0°C. Average annual precipitation is 600 mm per year.
There are more than 72 000 Protista, fungi, plant and animal species in Poland, while
animal species are wider represented that plants (number of animal species occurs from 33 000
to 45 000, including 620 species of vertebrates). Most of animals currently present in Poland
are deciduous forest species characteristic for the temperate zone of Eurasia (like red
deer/Cervus elaphus, roe deer/Capreolus capreolus, wild pig/Sus scrofa, wolf/Canis lupus, euro-
pean bison/Bison bonasus), but there are also 36 endemic and 38 relict species. Many species
reach its borders of natural range in Poland. Those are f.e. beech (Fagus sylvatica), fir (Abies
alba), sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), white hare (Lepus timidus) and spotted souslik (Sper-
mophilus suslicus). Due to differences between geographical regions Polish nature is reach in
diverse habitats (365 plant associations were found in the country). In the north-eastern Poland
some species typical for taiga, and even tundra can be found (f.i. tawny owl/Strix aluco),
moose/Alces alces), while in the south-east lives some species reminds of the Black Sea steppes
(bee-eater/Merops apiaster) and in south there is wildlife composition typical for mountain
areas (such as chamois/Rupicapra rupicapra, marmot/Marmota marmota, brown bear/Ursus
arctos, lynx/Lynx lynx and wild cat/Felis sylvestris).
Even if forests occupy app. 28.5% of the country, it is estimated that about 15% of vas-
cular flora species and more than 30% of vertebrate species occurring in Poland are in the risk
of extinction. To protect them 23 national parks, about 120 landscape parks, 1385 nature re-
serves, 445 protected landscape areas and 823 NATURA 2000 sites were established. In total
app. 33% of Polish territory is under various forms of nature protection and conservation.
Fig. 3. National parks (green) and landscape parks (yellow) in Poland (source: Pedros.lol/Atlas)
Poland is a multi-party, parliamentary, democratic republic with bicameral legislative
system, consist upper house – Senat and lower house – Sejm. Executive branch consists of a
president (head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces) and a prime minister
(head of government). The judicial branch is created by independent courts. The state is gov-
erned under the constitution of 1997.
Administratively, Poland is divided into 16 provinces (voivodeships, Pol. województwo):
Greater Poland Voivodeship (Pol. województwo wielkopolskie), major city – Poznan, Kuyavian-
Pomeranian Voivodeship (Pol. województwo kujawsko-pomorskie), major cities – Torun and
Bydgoszcz, Lesser Poland Voivodeship (Pol. województwo małopolskie), major city – Krakow
(Cracow), Łódź Voivodeship (Pol. województwo łódzkie), major city – Lodz, Lower Silesian
Voivodeship (Pol. województwo dolnośląskie), major city – Wroclaw, Lublin Voivodeship (Pol.
województwo lubelskie), major city – Lublin, Lubusz Voivodeship (Pol. województwo lubuskie),
major cities – Gorzow Wielkopolski and Zielona Gora, Masovian Voivodeship (Pol. wojewódz-
two mazowieckie), major city – Warszawa (Warsaw), Opole Voivodeship (Pol. województwo
opolskie), major city – Opole, Podlaskie Voivodeship (Pol. województwo podlaskie), major city –
Bialystok, Pomeranian Voivodeship (Pol. województwo pomorskie) – major city – Gdansk, Sile-
sian Voivodeship (Pol. województwo śląskie), major city – Katowice, Subcarpathian Voivodeship
(Pol. województwo podkarpackie), major city – Rzeszow, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (Pol. wo-
jewództwo świętokrzyskie), major city – Kielce, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship (Pol. wo-
jewództwo warmiosko-mazurskie), major city – Olsztyn, West Pomeranian Voivodeship (Pol.
województwo zachodniopomorskie), major city – Szczecin.
Fig. 4. Administrative division of Poland into voivodeships and counties (source: wikipedia/Aotearoa)
For local administration provinces are divided into counties (Pol. powiat) and those into
communes (Pol. gmina). Currently there are 400 counties and almost 2500 communes. More-
over, 18 Euroregions are situated along Poland's borders. Those are: Euroregion Nysa (Poland,
Germany, Czech Republic), Euroregion Karpacki (Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania),
Euroregion Sprewa-Nysa-Bóbr (Poland, Germany), Euroregion Pro Europa Viadrina (Poland,
Germany), Euroregion Tatry (Poland, Slovakia), Euroregion Bug (Poland, Ukraine, Belarus), Eu-
roregion Pomerania (Poland, Germany, Sweden), Euroregion Glacensis (Poland, Czech Repub-
lic), Euroregion Niemen (Poland, Lithuania, Belarus), Euroregion Pradziad (Poland, Czech Re-
public), Euroregion Bałtyk (Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Sweden, Denmark), Euroregion Śląsk Ci-
eszyoski (Poland, Czech Republic), Euroregion Silesia (Poland, Czech Republic), Euroregion
Beskidy (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia), Euroregion Dobrawa (Poland, Czech Republic), Eu-
roregion Puszcza Białowieska (Poland, Belarus), Euroregion Szeszupa (Poland, Lithuania, Russia,
Sweden), Euroregion Łyna-Ława (Poland, Russia).
Capital and largest city of Poland is Warszawa (Warsaw), with population reached 1.6
million inhabitants. Other large cities are – Lodz (778 200 inhabitants), Krakow (Cracow,
733 100 inhabitants), Wroclaw (632 200 inhabitants), Poznan (581 200 inhabitants), Gdansk
(456 700 inhabitants), Szczecin (415 700 inhabitants). Almost 62% of Poles live in cities, while
more than 38% inhabit rural areas.
Poland has a large agricultural sector, which employs about 16% of the work force but
contributes only 5% to the gross domestic product (GDP). About 40% of Poland's land area is
arable (agricultural land – about 50%) and is occupied by app. 2 million, mainly small private
farms. The main crops are potatoes, sugar beets, vegetables, fruits, wheat and dairy products,
while pigs and poultry are the main livestock.
Poland's industrial base is concentrated in machine building, iron and steel products,
coal mining, chemicals, food processing and beverages, glass, textiles. NATURAl resources are
coal, sulphur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, zinc, salt and amber. Polish exports include ma-
chinery and transport equipment, intermediate manufactured goods, miscellaneous manufac-
tured goods, food and live animals. The country imports machinery and transport equipment,
intermediate manufactured goods, chemicals, minerals and fuels. Major trading partners are
Germany, Russia, Italy, China and France.
The origins of the Polish state dates back to the year 966, when duke Mieszko I was bap-
tized. His successors established a strong kingdom, which has reached the peak of its power in
the XV-XVIth century, under the rule of the Jagiellonian dynasty. In 1386 Poland entered the
union with Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which was reinforced by treaty of the 1569th year. In
XVIIIth century Polish monarchy and Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth went into a decline,
which ended with three partitions of Poland by Prussia, Russia and Austria, in 1772, 1793 and
1795. After the Napoleonic Wars, and numerous uprisings against invaders Poland regained
independence after the First World War in 1918. As a result of hostilities during World War IInd,
Poland got into the Soviet sphere of influence, and until 1989 was ruled by the communist re-
gime. In the fall of communism, considerable merit had a social movement “Solidarnośd” (Eng.
“Solidarity”). Nowadays Poland is a member state of European Union (EU), the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) and United Nations (UN).
1.2. Length and type of coast line
The north part of Poland, bordered with the Baltic Sea, is a part of South Baltic Shore-
lands (Pol. Pobrzeża Południowobałtyckie), which are divided into three macroregions –
Szczecin Shoreland (Pol. Pobrzeże Szczecioskie), Koszalin Shoreland (Pol. Pobrzeże Koszalioskie)
and Gdansk Shoreland (Pol. Pobrzeże Gdaoskie). The region is a belt-shape, wide in a several
dozen kilometres along the southern shores of the Baltic Sea. It stretches from the Bay of Kiel in
the west to the Vistula Lagoon in the east and occupies in Poland app. 19 thous. km2. The total
length of the Polish coastline is 775 km. The coastline is rather smooth and regular.
Fig. 5. Poland’s coast of the Baltic Sea (source: www.turystyka.gazeta.pl)
The Szczecin Shoreland (the westernmost part of the Polish coast) occupies territories
around the Szczecin Lagoon, the estuary of the Odra River and Pomeranian Bay shores. On the
Polish territory it takes about 8 thous. km2. The region consists eleven mezoregions: Wolin and
Usedom Islands (Pol. Wyspy Wolin i Uznam), Trzebiatowski Coast (Pol. Wybrzeże Trzebia-
towskie), Gryfice Flatland (Pol. Równina Gryficka), Goleniow Flatland (Pol. Równina Golen-
iowska), Nowogard Flatland (Pol. Równina Nowogardzka), Pyrzyce-Stargard Flatland (Pol. Rown-
ina Pyrzycko-Stargardzka), Beech Hills (Pol. Wzgórza Bukowe), Lower Odra Valley (Pol. Dolina
Dolnej Odry), Szczecin Prominences (Pol. Wzniesienia Szczecioskie), Weltyn Flatland (Pol. Równ-
ina Wełtyoska), Wkrzanska Flatland (Pol. Równina Wkrzaoska).
The Koszalin Shoreland occupies an area of about 6.5 thous. km2 and is divided into six
mezoregions: Slovincy Coast (Pol. Wybrzeże Słowioskie), Bialogard Flatland (Pol. Równina Bia-
łogardzka), Slupsk Flatland (Pol. Równina Słupska), Damnica Height (Pol. Wysoczyzna Dam-
nicka), Reda-Leba Proglacial Stream Valley (Pol. Pradolina Redy-Łeby), Zarnowiec Height (Pol.
Wysoczyzna Żarnowiecka).
The easternmost part of Poland’s Baltic coast, Gdansk Shoreland, is situated around the
Gulf of Gdansk, vast delta of the Vistula River and Vistula Lagoon. Characteristic spits are lo-
cated in the region, which covers about 4.5 thous. km2. It includes seven mezoregions: Hel Pen-
insula (Pol. Mierzeja Helska), Kaszuby Schoreland (Pol. Pobrzeże Kaszubskie), Vistula Spit (Pol.
Mierzeja Wiślana), Old-Prussian Coast (Pol. Wybrzeże Staropruskie), Vistula Depression (Pol.
Żuławy Wiślane), Elblag Height (Pol. Wysoczyzna Elbląska), and Warmia Flatland (Pol. Równina
Warmioska).
Fig. 6. Physic-Geographical regionalization of the Polish schoreland (source: www.commons.
wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Physico-Geographical_Regionalization_of_Poland.png)
There are four types of coastal landscape in Poland – dune, deltaic, lacustrine-lagoon-
swamp and seaside cliffs. All of them were formed during the youngest geomorphic processes
occurring in coastal zones.
Fig. 7. Types of coastal landscape (klify – cliffs, wydmy – dunes, brzeg płaski – flat shore) (source:
www.ztikm.univ.szczecin.pl/projekty/atlas/atlas.htm)
The landscape of dune and sand forms a narrow strip of coastal occurring with short in-
tervals along the whole Polish coast and creating dry, locally with saline soils, grassy or woody
environment. The flatland deltaic landscape is present in estuary areas of the Vistula and Odra
rivers. It is built of river inflows and is characterized by alluvial soil and a predominant share of
cultivated fields and meadows. For the third type of coastal landscape shallow and salty lagoon
are typical (those are Szczecin Lagoon and Vistula Lagoon), as well as rare shallow coastal lakes
(like Lebsko and Gardno lakes), with mixed fresh and salty waters, overgrowing by water or
marshland flora and narrow spits (Hel Peninsula and Vistula Spit). The South Baltic Shorelands
includes also cliffs (the best known cliffs are situated near Cape Rozewie and on the Wolin Is-
land, where is located the highest Polish cliff, reaches 95 m above sea-level) and a moraine flat-
lands with few hills, cutted by a system of proglacial stream valleys.
Fig. 8. Population density in Poland’s shoreland area (source: www.nationmaster.com)
Closeness to the sea greatly affects the climate of this region, which is characterized by
mild winters and hot summers.
2. Different types of interests affecting the Baltic Green Belt
2.1. Financial
2.1.1. Harbours and maritime transport
There are four ports of great economic significance at the Polish seaside – Gdaosk,
Gdynia, Świnoujście and Szczecin (sometimes also Police are included here). There are also
about 10-20 smaller cargo and/or passenger ports.
In 2009, Polish seaports’ cargo throughput was over 45 mln tonnes. A share of individual
ports in cargo traffic is as follows: Gdaosk – 41.6 % of the total throughput, Gdynia – 25.2 %,
Szczecin – 15.5 %, and Świnoujście – 18.6 %. Remaining seaports contributed to 4.7%. The big-
gest share in structure of cargo traffic had dry bulk (42.6%), liquid bulk (28.4%) and containers
(11.3%).
Total amount of cargo handled in international maritime traffic in 2009 was 44.2 million
tonnes. Contribution of Polish seaports in international traffic, by partner ports was as follows:
European Union – 67.0%, other European countries – 11.4%, North America – 5.0%, South
America – 5.4%, Asia – 5.6%, Africa – 5.4%. In 2008 the Polish seaports handled almost 3% of
ships calling at the Baltic Sea region seaports that time. Polish participation in intra-regional
cargo throughput in the Baltic Sea region is about 6.9%.
In 2009, international passenger arrivals at the Poland’s ports amounted to 711 300
people, which was 6.7% less than in the previous year. Polish seaports’ contribution to the pas-
senger movements over the Baltic in 2008 was 1.6%. In 2009, most passengers were trans-
ported in relation to the ports of Sweden (79.1%), Germany (10.8%) and Denmark (9.0%).
In 2009, Polish maritime fleet consisted of 118 ships of total deadweight about 2 630
thousand tonnes and gross tonnage GT app. 1 930 thousand. The majority of the fleet were dry
cargo carriers with the number of 92 ships. 18 ships of Polish fleet (of deadweight 37.4 thou-
sand tonnes and gross tonnage GT 49.7 thousand) serve under the Polish flag. Also 1 maritime
ship, leased from a foreign company, is operated by Polish ship-owners.
The Polish foreign trade, maritime transport is 50% of the total turnover, but for exam-
ple in trade with Germany, 70% being carried out by land. Sea transport accounts for only 12%
of the turnover of Polish-German relations. Polish seaports focused about 12% of intra-speed
cargo dry, liquid around 4% and 7% of general cargo. Smaller (around 2%) is the participation of
Polish ports to handle passenger traffic.
Fig. 9. Distribution of cargo
throughput, by seaports, in
2009 (source: www.stat.gov.pl)
Seaports are part of the spatial arrangement of the communication network of the
country, next to roads and other transport hubs. The harbour itself is a transportation hub,
where the lines converge in the maritime transport industry, land, river and transmission.
Fig. 10. Polish ports and shipping (rzeki I klasy – Ist class rivers, rzeki II klasy – IInd class rivers,
rzeki o zn. turystycznym – rivers of the importance of tourism, małe porty morskie –
small seaports, małe porty śródlądowe – small inland ports, małe porty handlowe –
small commercial ports, duże porty handlowe – large commercial ports) (source:
www.ztikm.univ.szczecin.pl/projekty/atlas/atlas.htm)
Fig. 11. Division of Polish seaports due to the activity profile (source: maritime.com.pl/port
/indexp.php)
Fig. 12. Location on Polish seaports with indication of areas subordinate to individuals Maritime
Offices (source: maritime.com.pl/port/indexp.php)
Porty morskie
handlowe rybackie wojenne
Uniwersalne Specjalizowane Port Władysławowo
port Szczecin
port Gdynia
port Gdański
port Świnoujście
Port Elbląg
port Police port Dziwnów
port Ustka
port Łeba
Port MarynarkiWojennej w Helu
port Jastarnia
Port MarynarkiWojennej w
Gdyni
Port MarynarkiWojennej wŚwinoujściu
Porty morskie
handlowe rybackie wojenne
Uniwersalne Specjalizowane Port Władysławowo
port Szczecin
port Gdynia
port Gdański
port Świnoujście
Port Elbląg
port Police port Dziwnów
port Ustka
port Łeba
Port MarynarkiWojennej w Helu
port Jastarnia
Port MarynarkiWojennej w
Gdyni
Port MarynarkiWojennej wŚwinoujściu
all-purpose
commercial
specialized
fishery
military
Naval Port in Hel
Naval Port in Gdynia
Naval Port in Świnoujście
Polish seaports
Naval Port in Swinoujscie
Port of Gdansk, the biggest Polish harbour, is located on the southern coast of the Baltic
Sea in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, operating in the northern part of the city of Gdansk (the
city is province’s capital) and in the western part of the Vistula Spit. It is a commercial port with
the major part of the cargo turnover of a liquid fuel. The port is comprised of two areas with
different naturally operational parameters: the Inner Harbour is located along the Dead Vistula
River and North Port with direct access to the Gulf of Gdansk, creating the conditions for han-
dling the largest ships. The advantage of the location of the Port of Gdansk is a central location
on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea.
Fig. 13. Reloading general cargo in the years 2000-2010 I-III [tons] (source: Port of Gdansk)
Fig. 14. Container handling in the years 2000-2010 I-III [TEU]/right chart (source: Port of Gdansk)
Fig. 15. The number of passengers handled in the years 2000-2010 I-III (source: Port of Gdansk)
Fig. 16. Reloading of liquid fuels in the years 2000-2010 I-III [tons] (source: Port of Gdansk)
Fig. 17. Reloading of coal in the years 2000-2010 I-III [tons] (source: Port of Gdansk)
Fig. 18. Reloading of grain in the years 2000-2010 I-III [tons] (source: Port of Gdansk)
Fig. 19. Reloading of ore in the years 2000-2010 I-III [tons] (source: Port of Gdansk)
Fig. 20. Reloading of other mass in the years 2000-2010 I-III [tons] (source: Port of Gdansk)
The port of Gdansk is a key link in the Trans-European Transport Corridor No. VI, con-
necting Scandinavia and South-eastern Europe. In the port ferry base is located, supporting
lines to Finland, Sweden and Germany.
The Inner Port include container terminal, the base and the terminal for ferries and ro-
ro ships, to handling cars and citrus fruits, liquid and granular sulphur and phosphates. The
other berths are universal and provide handling of conventional and bulk goods. In North Port
are located berth for raw materials (liquid fuels and coal) handling.
Gdansk Shipyard – one of the largest Polish shipyards – is located in Gdansk, on the left
bank of the Vistula River and the Dead Ostrow. It was created after 1945 and currently owns
the controlling stake is the Gdansk Shipyard Group, which has an 83 percent stake in the com-
pany. The shipyard employs approximately 2 200 employees.
The second biggest harbour in Poland is a set of ports in Swinoujscie (Pol. Świnoujście)
and in Szczecin (one of the biggest port complex in the Baltic Sea region). Both of them are
situated in the western part of West Pomeranian Voivodeship, near the border with Germany.
The port of Szczecin is situated 65 km inland. Overridden by the handling of coal and
bulk goods. Szczecin is the main port of transit in Poland and an important inland port.
Fig. 21. Reloading gen-
eral cargo in the years
2000-2010 I-IV [thous.
tons] (source: Statistical
Office in Szczecin)
Fig. 22. Reloading oil and oil
products in the years 2000-
2010 I-IV [thous. tons]
(source: Statistical Office in
Szczecin)
Fig. 23. Reloading of coal in the years 2000-2010 I-IV [thous. tons] (source: Statistical Office in
Szczecin)
Fig. 24. Reloading of grain in the years 2000-2010 I-IV [thous. tons] (source: Statistical Office in
Szczecin)
Fig. 25. Reloading ore in the years 2000-2010 I-IV [thous. tons] (source: Statistical Office in
Szczecin)
Fig. 26. Reloading Wood in the years 2000-2010 I-IV [thous. tons] (source: Statistical Office in
Szczecin)
Fig. 27. Reloading other mass in the years 2000-2010 I-IV [thous. tons] (source: Statistical Office
in Szczecin)
Team Szczecin-Swinoujscie port is located on the shortest route connecting Scandinavia
with Central and Southern Europe, and on the sea route, which connects through the Baltic
from Finland to Russia and Western Europe. An important advantage of ports is an excellent
connection to their network of inland waterways to Berlin, and the European system of water-
ways. Both ports provide comprehensive services for bulk and general cargo, as well as trans-
port of passengers. From Szczecin and Swinoujscie keep shipping connections to Sweden,
Finland, Denmark, Norway, Lithuania, Great Britain, Germany, West Africa and China.
Szczecin Shipyard is in liquidation.
Swinoujscie Seaport is located on the Polish part of Usedom Island. Port is located at the
mouth of the Swina River (Pol. Świna) to the Baltic Sea. Port occupies the central part of the city
of Swinoujscie and consist berth for cargo handling, passenger terminal and marina. It is Po-
land's largest fishery port, handling mainly bulk commodities and general cargo. Quay at the
port of Swinoujscie is equipped with modern facilities for handling and storage yards and ware-
houses.
Fig. 28. Reloading general cargo in the years 2000-2010 I-IV [thous. tons] (source: Statistical
Office in Szczecin)
Fig. 28. Reloading oil and
oil products in the years
2000-2010 I-IV [thous.
tons] (source: Statistical
Office in Szczecin)
Fig. 29. Reloading of coal
in the years 2000-2010 I-
IV [thous. tons] (source:
Statistical Office in Szcze-
cin)
Fig. 30. Reloading of grain in the years 2000-2010 I-IV [thous. tons] (source: Statistical Office
in Szczecin)
Fig. 31. Reloading ore in the years 2000-2010 I-IV [thous. tons] (source: Statistical Office
in Szczecin)
Fig. 32. Transhipment of timber in the years 2000-2010 I-IV [thous. tons] (source: Statistical Office
in Szczecin)
Fig. 33. Reloading other mass in the years 2000-2010 I-IV [thous. tons] (source: Statistical Office
in Szczecin)
In the city of Swinoujscie there is a regular ferry between the city centre (on the west
shore of the river Swina) and the Warszow district (on the east shore).
Port of Gdynia is situated on the Gulf of Gdansk, in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, specifi-
cally in the eastern part of Kaszuby Shoreland. It is harbour with commercial, fishery, travel and
navy profile. The total port area is 755.4 hectares, including land area of 492.6 ha. Gdynia Ship-
yard is now in liquidation.
Fig. 34. Reloading general cargo
in 2005-2009 [thous. tons] (sour-
ce: Port of Gdynia)
Fig. 35. Container handling
in the years 2005-2009
[thous. tons] (source: Port of
Gdynia)
Fig. 36. Reloading fuels in 2005-2009 [thous. tons] (source: Port of Gdynia)
Fig. 37. Reloading of coal and coke in the years 2005-2009 [thous. tons] (source: Port of Gdynia)
Fig. 38. Reloading of grain in 2005-2009 [thous. tons] (source: Port of Gdynia)
Fig. 39. Transhipment of timber in the years 2005-2009 [thous. tons] (source: Port of Gdynia)
Fig. 40. Reloading other mass in the years 2005-2009 [thous. tons] (source: Port of Gdynia)
Fig. 41. Plan for
the port of
Gdansk (sour-
ce: www.port
gdansk.pl)
Gulf of Gdansk
Vistula
Fig. 42. Swinoujscie-Szczecin fairway (on the right) and plan
for the port of Swinoujscie (below) (source: www.port.
szczecin.pl)
Fig. 43. Port of Szczecin – General
Cargo Area (source: www.port.
szczecin.pl)
Fig. 44. Port of Szczecin –
Bulk Cargo Area (source:
www.port. szczecin.pl)
Fig. 45. Plan for port of Gdynia (source: www.port.gdynia.pl)
Beyond these large seaports, in Poland there are several smaller ports of local impor-
tance. One of them is port of Darlowo (Pol. Darłowo), situated at the mouth of the river
Wieprza. Profile of the port’s activity is commercial, fishery and tourist. Port Darlowo operated
fully with all common business functions such as transhipment of goods in domestic and inter-
national trade, procurement, storage, processing and sale of marine fish, as well as providing
recreational and sport services to individuals.
Fig. 46. Total cargo turnover in
2002-2006 [thous. tons] (source:
Central Statistical Office)
Fig. 47. Vessels entering the port
in 2002-2006 (source: Central
Statistical Office)
Fig. 48. Units of the fleet boats in 2002-2006 (source: Central Statistical Office)
Darlowo has permanent summer tourist connection with the Danish Bornholm. At the
port area there is infrastructure, carrying out repairs action of ships, maintenance of a hull and
marine engines. Access to the port is sheltered by two breakwaters (with length about 415 and
464 meter). The length of the quays in operation: handling – 370 m, fishery – 686 m and repair
– 152 m.
Port of Elblag (Pol. Elbląg) is the largest Polish port of the Vistula Lagoon. It is located in
the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, on the Elblag River, 6 km from the estuary of the Vistula
Lagoon, which is connected with the Gulf of Gdansk by the Pilava Strait near Baltiysk (Russia).
Port of Elblag is a regional harbour serving the coastal cargo and passenger (tourist) shipping.
Fig. 49. Vessels entering the port
in 2002-2006 (source: Central Sta-
tistical Office)
Fig. 50. Reloading general cargo
in 2002-2006 [thous. tons]
(source: Central Statistical Office)
Fig. 51. Reloading of coal and coke in the years 2002-2006 [thous. tons] (source: Central Statis
tical Office)
Fig. 52. Reloading other mass in 2002-2006 [thous. tons] (source: Central Statistical Office)
There are over 25 000 passengers transported annually by the port of Elblag. Elblag, as
one of Poland’s two ports on the Vistula Lagoon (the other one is Frombork) has a maritime
border checkpoint, allowing clearance of boats travelling to Kaliningrad and Baltiysk (Russia).
The domestic shipping service on cruises to Frombork, Tolkmicko, Krynica Morska, Katy Ry-
backie (Vistula Lagoon), port of Gdansk and Masurian Lakes (by Elblag Canal).
Hel port is located in the southern part of the Hel Peninsula, on the east coast of the Bay
of Puck, in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. In the port there is a fishery (which is the main profile
of its activity), yacht and passenger harbour. Hel is the main port of destination for the coastal
fleet from Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot. This port is also the site, where rescue vessels stationed
on duty.
Fig. 53. Units of the fleet boats in 2002-2006 [thous. tons] (source: Central Statistical Office)
Port of Kolobrzeg (Pol. Kołobrzeg) is located at the mouth of the river Parseta (Pol.
Parsęta), in the West Pomerania Voivodeship. It is the sixth largest maritime trading port in
Poland. In Kolobrzeg there is also a tourist/yacht port, which can operate around 50 yachts at
the same time. Port of Kolobrzeg has a connection to the Danish town of Nexo (island of Born-
holm).
Fig. 54. Reloading general
cargo in 2002-2006 [thous.
tons] (source: Central Statisti-
cal Office)
Fig. 55. Reloading Wood in
the years 2002-2006 [thous.
tons] (source: Central Sta-
tistical Office)
Fig. 56. Reloading of grain in 2002-2006 [thous. tons] (source: Central Statistical Office)
Fig. 57. Reloading other mass in the years 2002-2009 [thous. tons] (source: Central Statistical
Office)
Port of Leba (Pol. Łeba) is located at the mouth of the River Leba (Pol. Łeba), on the
Slovincy Coast, in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. It is a fishery and tourist port. Currently about
40 fishery vessels moored there and, in summer, also many cruise units, which offer short
cruises on the sea and operate about 60 000 tourists per year. In 1998 Leba Yacht Harbour was
opened. It can berth over 120 units of various classes.
Fig. 58. Units of the fleet boats
in 2002-2006 [thous. tons]
(source: Central Statistical Office)
Port Police is located on the left bank of the Canal Police (Odra River), at the fairway
Szczecin-Swinoujscie, in the West Pomerania Voivodeship. The harbour working almost exclu-
sively on the needs of the Chemical Plant "POLICE" SA company, and is used as a trans-
shipment terminal for bulk commodities such as phosphates, apatites, potassium salt, fertiliz-
ers, ammonia and sulphuric acid. In terms of trans-shipped consumer goods port of Police is the
fourth port in Poland, with app. 2.5 million tons of cargo trans-shipped there.
Fig. 59. Reloading of
coal and coke in the
years 2002-2006
[thous. tons] (source:
Central Statistical Of-
fice)
Fig. 60. Reloading
ore in 2002-2006
[thous. tons]
(source: Central
Statistical Office)
Fig. 61. Reloading
other mass in the
years 2002-2006
[thous. tons] (source:
Central Statistical
Office)
Fig. 62. Trans-shipment of raw materials and liquids (siarczan – sulphates, wodoro-tlenek – hy
droxides, fosforyty – phosphates, nawozy – fertilisers, ilmenit – ilmenite, koksik/węgiel –
breeze/coal) in 2009 [tons] (source: Port Police)
Port of Wladyslawowo is situated in the Kaszuby Shoreland, at the base of the Hel Pen-
insula, in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. The harbour is mainly used as a fishery port (it is one of
the most important fishery ports in the Baltic Sea in terms of quantity of fish landed, number of
fishery boats operated and equipment) and as a place of refuge for boats in bad weather on the
Baltic Sea, but it can also be used in the transport and handling of goods other than fish. Since
2002 marina operate there.
Fig. 63. Reloading general cargo in 2002-2006 [thous. tons] (source: Central Statistical Office)
Fig. 64. Trans-shipment of crude and petroleum products in 2002-2006 [thous. tons] (source:
Central Statistical Office)
Fig. 65. Location of Wladyslawowo, Hel and Puck harbours (source: www.en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/File:Zatoka_Pucka_mapa_mini.png)
Port of Ustka is located in the mouth of the river Slupia (Pol. Słupia) in the Pomeranian
Voivodeship. It is fishery (one of the largest fishery port in Poland), trade and tourist harbour.
Permanently about 60 fishery boats stationed there. From a few to several thousand tonnes of
cargo, most of these are bulk and general cargo, are reloaded in the Ustka port.
Fig. 66. Cargo traffic at the port in 2002-2006 [thous. tons] (source: Central Statistical Office)
Fig. 67. Vessels entering the port in 2002-2006 [thous. tons] (source: Central Statistical Office)
2.1.2. Oil-terminals and gas-terminals
In 2009 the Polish Parliament adopted the Law on investments in the terminal for lique-
fied natural gas in Swinoujscie (Pol. Gazoport w Świnoujściu), which is considered a strategic
investment for Polish interests. In the same year work on the technical design of the LNG ter-
minal was completed. Currently terminal is being built and date of putting it into operation is
June 2014. The location of the investments chosen such economic considerations, governed by
the legal situation of land, to ensure consistent implementation of the task schedule, lower
construction costs, shorter transport route and a greater demand for gas in the region. The
terminal will be located in seamlessly with the spa area of the city and will not pose restrictions
on travel.
Fig. 68. Scheme of the planned LNG terminal (source: http://www.strefabiznesu.gp24.pl/artykul/
rzad-przyjal-specjalna-ustawe-dla-gazoportu-w-swinoujsciu-7083.html)
In the planning phase was carried out extensive public consultation. Project has also met
the highest standards of environmental protection and nature conservation in the selection of
variants and compensations, making the investment environmentally friendly. In the course of
the investment will not be destroyed or violated any historic buildings.
Terminal will cost app. 3 000 000 000 PLN (European Union has granted so far 80 million
EUR for this purpose) and will be built by a consortium of companies from Italy, Canada, France
and Poland. External Port Area is planned for 130 ha, and it will handle LNG tankers of up to
300 m to 13.5 m draft and cargo capacity up to 200 000 cubic meters. Cargo handling capacity
of Swinoujscie LNG terminal will be 5 000 000 000 cubic meters of LNG gas per year, and in fu-
ture will be expanded up to 7 500 000 000 cubic meters per year. It is planned to built new east
breakwater of the length of 2 990 m, and additionally spur the existing eastern breakwater with
a length of 250 m.
Gdansk Refinery LOTOS is located on the Dead Vistula bank. The refinery is the largest
company in Pomeranian Voivodeship and the second largest in terms of processing refinery in
Poland. In 2005, the refinery has a capacity reached 6 million tons of oil annually. In 2007 it
started the modernization and expansion of refineries under the Comprehensive Technical De-
velopment Program (PKRT). After its completion in 2010 the plant capacity in crude oil will in-
crease to 10.5 million tonnes per year.
Oil terminal in Gdansk (Naftoport) works on handling of liquid fuels in the North Port of
Gdansk. It has a handling capacity of 34 million tonnes per year and is designed to handle ves-
sels with deadweight of 300 thousand tons. The terminal supports delivery of crude oil for Pol-
ish and German refineries and realizes the direction of Russian exports.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2009
Fig. 69. Reloading of liquid fuels [million tonnes]
The biggest Polish drilling platform, “Baltic Beta”, belongs to Petrobaltic SA, a mining
company (owned by the Lotos Group SA). Petrobaltic has an exclusive concession for explora-
tion and exploitation of hydrocarbon deposits on area of 8 150 km2, located mainly in the east-
ern part of the Polish exclusive economic zone of the Baltic Sea. In the area covered by this
concession, there are four oil fields and four natural gas deposits.
The "Baltic Beta" is set on a bed B-3, where oil can be found at a depth of about 1 450 m
under the sea bottom. Oil, extracted by twelve exploitation holes, is sent through pipelines to
the tanker “Icarus III”, on which it is stored. After filling, tanker carrying crude oil to port of
Gdansk. The gas is transported by subsea pipeline to Wladyslawowo, where the Energobaltic
Company uses it in local power plant.
The second Polish drilling platform, called ”Petropaltic”, is planned to be situated on B-8
deposit, which is located 68 km from the coastline, at the height of Hel. Located 2.1 kilo-
metres under the seabed. The oil will be extracted from three wells operating a drilling rig
located in the centre of the bed and will be sent, as well as accompanying gas, through an un-
derwater pipeline with a length of about 35 km to the centre platform "Baltic Beta". From
there, after separation, the oil will be sent to shore tanker, and gas after processing will be sent
trough an underwater pipeline to the Wladyslawowo power plant, where it will be converted
into electricity, heat and LPG.
Fig. 70. Map of Poland’s gas (white blocks) and oil (black blocks) deposits (exploited – marked
by “x”) (source: www.pgi.gov.pl/surowce_mineralne/mapy/Ropa_mala.htm)
2.1.3. Factories
Pollution from industrial sectors around the Baltic Sea has a major impact on the envi-
ronment in the region. Industries that are most harmful to the environment are pulp-paper,
chemical and processing plants and production of metals. An impurity, mostly inorganic waste,
goes into the Baltic Sae by:
air, in the form of oxides (NOX, POX) from the chimneys,
by runoff of surface waters from sewage outflows from the installations.
In the Baltic schoreland in Poland several types of industry activities are present: ship-
building, petroleum, chemical, heavy industry, electronic, automotive, spirit. Most of industrial
plants are gathered in Szczecin and Gdansk industrial districts.
Polish shipbuilding industry is currently undergoing a deep crisis (bankruptcy of the
shipyards in Gdynia and Szczecin). In Poland there are shipyards and ship repair yards of differ-
ent activity profiles. The largest are the Gdaosk Shipyard SA, Gdansk Ship Repair Yard SA with
Northern Shipyard SA in Gdansk. Moreover, in Gdansk there are also Shipyard Wisla, Shipyard
Wisla Aluminium, Alu International, Odys Shipyard, Crist Shipyard, Maritim Shipyard and Ma-
rina Projects Ltd. In Gdynia there is Ship Repair Yard Nauta SA and Damen Shipyard Gdynia SA.
In Swinoujscie has existed Morska Repair Shipyard SA and in Szczecin – Gryfia Repair Shipyard.
Above mentioned shipyards are involved in complete shipbuilding and ship partially equipped,
assembly of parts of hulls and superstructures, and various steel and aluminium constructions,
as well as ships repairs and reconstructions. Polish shipyards specialize in the construction of
technically sophisticated ships, such as offshore vessels, large cruisers, passenger and car traffic
ferries, fishing vessels and yachts. More than 90 percent of production of Poland’s shipbuilding
industry is devoted to exports.
Gdansk Shipyard SA (Pol. Stocznia Gdaoska), the last still fully operated Polish shipyard,
is situated in Gdansk. It was created after 1945 in areas where previously was a German Impe-
rial Shipyard (since 1844) and shipyard Schichau (since 1890). It operates in the shipbuilding
sector, by renovating, rebuilding and building vessels. The development of offshore wind en-
ergy sector has lead to expanding a production profile of the Polish shipyards’ for the construc-
tion of turbines and other components of wind power plants.
The petroleum industry in the Polish shoreland is represented by Gdansk Refinery. The
most important part of its work is the refining of crude oil. It is the largest company in the
Voivodeship of Pomerania and the second in terms of processing refinery in Poland. Most of
the consumed oil is imported from Russia.
The biggest installation of chemical industry in coastal area are the Police chemical
plants (Pol. Zakłady Chemiczne “POLICE” SA), located in the city of Police, near Szczecin (West
Pomeranian Voivodeship). The company produce multi-component mineral fertilisers, urea
(nitrous fertiliser), ammonia, phosphoric and sulphuric acid. In the city of Szczecin operate
phosphate fertilizers plant (Pol. Szczecioskie Zakłady Nawozów Fosporowych Superfosfat), pro-
duces fertilisers for agriculture and horticulture.
Elblag is the centre of heavy industry, where machine tools, steam and gas turbines are
produced. The only one ironworks on the Polish coast is the Szczecin foundry (Pol. Huta
Szczecin).
Radmor SA is a company producing electronic devices mainly for the army (including
radio stations), located in Gdynia (Pomeranian Voivodeship). Currently, the company continues
to produce transmission equipment mainly for the uniformed services under government con-
tracts.
In Slupsk (Pol. Słupsk), a city in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, a factory of the Scania Pro-
duction Słupsk SA is located. The company specializes in the production of city buses and bus
chassis.
In the Pomorskie Voivodeship, about 15 km from the Baltic Sea shore, a pumped storage
power plant in Zarnowiec (Pol. Żarnowiec) is situated. It is Poland's largest hydroelectric power
plant and its operation is based on upper reservoir Czymanowo (an artificial lake with an area
of 122 ha and a capacity of 13 million cubic meters, built in place of former village Kolkowo)
and the bottom reservoir (Lake Zarnowieckie). Originally it was supposed to cooperate with the
nuclear power plant, but finally it wasn’t built. Hydroelectric Zarnowiec is equipped with four
reversible hydro-units (Francis type turbines, synchronous generators) with nominal electric
power 179 MW in the system work as generators and 210 MW in the pumping system work.
Centre of the spirit industry on the coast is distillery Sobieski SA in Starogard Gdanski
(Pomeranian Voivodeship). It produces rectified spirit, which is used to produce vodka, liqueurs
and other spirits.
Fig. 71. Industrial cen-
tres in Poland (circles
and segments indicate
relative importance)
(source: www.nation-
master.com)
2.1.4. Industrial farms
Intensive animal farming causes a number of hazards, which may have a negative im-
pact on the Baltic Sea Region environmental conditions. The possible impact concerns all com-
ponents of the environment: air, soil and – what is most important for the Baltic Sea – water
(surface water, subsoil water, rainwater). Negative effects of industrial animal farming have
also social, economical and legal connotations.
The most inconvenient sources of pollution are big factory farms, in which even a few
thousands of animals are kept. This particular kind of animal farming is called industrial (or fac-
tory, intensive) animal (livestock) farming. In the Council Directive 96/61/EC of 24th September
1996 concerning integrated pollution prevention and control industrial animal farms are defined
as plants, that are obligated to posses integrated permits (which includes all pollutant emission
from particular plant to all environment components), that is with livestock density for unless
40 000 individuals (poultry), 2 000 pigs over 30kg, or 750 sows. Nowadays, the need for extend-
ing the definition of industry farms (IPPC) to installations for the intensive rearing of cattle,
sheep, goats, horses and fur animals, generating equally large threat to the environment arises.
Fig. 72. Land utilization in Poland (source: www.na-tionmaster.com)
The most disadvantageous, from environmental point of view, is litter-free breeding,
which causes great amounts of liquid manure – a natural, high concentrated liquid fertilizer,
which contains of feces, urine and water and, most often, is microbiologically polluted. Improp-
erly stored, managed and utilized manure can cause many serious threats, both to natural envi-
ronment and to man’s health. In comparison, dung is less concentrated animal natural fertilizer,
produced in litter rearing farms. Dung contains more organic matter, has higher temperature
than liquid manure (worse development conditions for pathogenic microorganisms) and for
that reasons is considered as more environmentally-friendly.
Negative influence of industrial animal farming depends on the level of livestock density
and on the other hand – on technology of the breeding and management of the produced liq-
uid manure. It can be said, considered all above mentioned arguments and species’ (livestock’s)
–quantity’s (density’s) structure, that the less environmentally friendly and bringing about the
most serious social conflicts in Poland (likewise in whole the Baltic Sea catchment area) is in-
dustrial pigs and poultry farming.
Fig. 73. Location of industrial swine farms in Poland, 2008 (source: Proceedings of the conferen-
ce Sustainable agriculture and industrial livestock production in the context of preven-
tion of the Baltic Sea eutrophication)
Fig. 74. Location of industrial poultry farms in Poland, 2008 (source: Proceedings of the confe-
rence Sustainable agriculture and industrial livestock production in the context of pre-
vention of the Baltic Sea eutrophication)
Pig population in Poland is 13.3 million animals (March 2009), and poultry animals 124.3
million (December 2008). The number of operating large-scale farms is estimated at 650, in-
cluding 126 pig farms and 524 poultry farms. At the same time, according to the data in an Ag-
ricultural Advisory Centre in Brwinow, the number of ecological farms rearing pigs in Poland is
only about 60.
In the coastal area there are:
21 farms with more than 2000 places for porkers (>30 kg),
31 farms with more than 750 places for sows,
74 farms with more than 40 000 places for poultry.
Average use of mineral and chemical fertilizers, expressed in kg per ha of cropland, is
132.6 and is still growing.
Fig. 75. Location of industrial swine farms with
more than 2000 places for porkers (red dots) and
more than 750 places for sows (black dots) in sea-
bordered communes (dark blue), counties (blue)
and provinces (light blue), 2009 (source: map is
rebuilt and derived from www.wikipedia.pl)
Fig. 76. Location of industrial poultry farms (red
dots) in sea-bordered communes (dark blue),
counties (blue) and provinces (light blue), 2009
(source: map is rebuilt and derived from
www.wikipedia.pl)
2.1.5. Tourism
The most durable and used year-round tourist base (such as spas) on the Baltic Sea in
Poland has Kolobrzeg, Swinoujscie and Sopot and larger cities such as Gdansk and Szczecin.
Coast is the largest Polish tourist region in terms of number of accommodation. Campsites set
up here, concentrated in about 60 coastal localities, are the most extensive in Poland – there
are many year-round centres, as well as luxury hotels.
The main value of tourism in Szczecin Shoreland is the sea itself, and wide, sandy
beaches and many sanatoriums and spa facilities. Swinoujscie, situated on the Usedom Island,
is an important tourist city of this region, and the most western and one of the largest Polish
marine bathing areas. It is visited by about 5 million tourists annually. The city has very wide
beach stretching to the border with Germany, regular ferry connection to the resorts on the
German part of the island of Usedom, the highest lighthouse in Poland, long promenade, extre-
mely environmentally valuable estuary of Swina River and the historic Prussian fortifications.
Other important tourist city is Miedzyzdroje (Pol. Międzyzdroje), located on the Wolin
island, on the edge of Wolin National Park. There is the Museum of Wolin National Park, re-
newed pier and a promenade along the sea in the city. Two kilometres from the city there is
European bison reserve and highest cliffs in the country (reaching up to 90 m).
At the eastern edge of Wolin National Park is Wiselka (Pol. Wisełka), further east
Miedzywodzie (Pol. Międzywodzie), at the mouth of a Dziwna River – Dziwnow (Pol. Dziwnów;
with fishery harbour and cruise ships wharf), and between the lake Wrzosowskie and the sea –
Dziwnowek (Pol. Dziwnówek). The last one is a popular place for a summer colonies.
At inland Lagoon Kamienski there is spa Kamien Pomorski, with famous cathedra and
summer festivals of organ music. Another tourist villages located along the west shore of the
Baltic Sea in Poland are: Lukecin (Pol. Łukęcin), Pobierowo, Pustkowo, Trzesacz (Pol. Trzęsacz;
with the most famous example of sea erosion – the last still standing wall of the church swal-
lowed by the sea), Rewal (with scenic cliffs and narrow gauge), Sliwin, Niechorze (with light-
house and a museum of fisheries) and Pogorzelica.
The main attraction of the Koszalin Shoreland is Slowinski National Park with the largest
accumulation of shifting sand dunes, and examples of their destructive activities. The biggest
tourist city is Kolobrzeg, famous health resort, known because its microclimate, brine and mud.
There is the Polish Army Museum, wide sandy beach, lighthouse, promenade, cruise ships, sail-
boats and motorboats port, and large pier. Other touristic places in this area are: Mrzezyno
(fishery harbour at the Rega River mouth), Rogowo (situated next to the Resko Lake – reach in
fish; with wide sandy beaches, old half-timbered houses and post-German hangars for hydro-
planes), Dzwirzyno, Ustronie Morskie (strong sea erosion, shore-protect concrete blocks), Gaski
(Pol. Gąski), Sarbinowo, Chlopy (Pol. Chłopy), Mielenko, Mielno (there are 14 000 beds and only
5 100 permanent residents), Uniescie (Pol. Unieście; with military monuments), Dabki (Pol.
Dąbki; with lighthouse), Darlowo (Pol. Darłowo; with the castle of King Erik I, Scandinavian style
old town and a beautiful church of St. Gertrude), Darlowko (Pol. Darłówko) and Jaroslawiec
(Pol. Jarosławiec; small fishery harbour and a lighthouse).
To the west of Darlowo are two large coastal lakes – Jamno and Bukowo – separated
from the sea by narrow spits. Next is a large tourist resort Ustka, with harbour, one of the pret-
ties promenade, spas and natural healing plants using salt springs and mud deposits.
To the east of the Slowinski National Park lies also few small, peaceful villages, like Rowy
with a small fishery port, Poddabie (Pol. Poddąbie), Orzechowo and Chlapowo, where steep
cliffs begins. Between the sea and the two large coastal lakes (Łebsko and Sarbsko) is situated a
big resort Leba (Pol. Łeba) – fishery village with a very extensive travel function (about 14.5
thousand beds) and large sandy beaches.
Gdansk Shoreland includes the eastern part of the Polish coast, extending around the
Gulf of Gdansk and Vistula Delta. Tourism and recreation are concentrated particularly in three
regions there: the Hel Peninsula, Gdansk-Gdynia-Sopot conurbation (Tricity, Pol. Trójmiasto),
the Vistula Spit and the Vistula river estuary.
The Hel Peninsula has a length of 34 km, the biggest attraction is sandy beaches on both
sides of the peninsula, and specific conditions for windsurfing. The main towns of the Hel Pen-
insula are: Kuznica (concrete battle stations of Polish defenders of Hel in 1939), Jastarnia (his-
toric fishery cottage, lies in the middle of the spit), Jurata (considered one of the most exclusive
sea resorts in Poland), Hel (at the end of the spit, with the most beautiful sandy beaches, Seal
Centre with gray seals, fishery museum, half-timbered houses and famous military monu-
ments).
At the base of the Hel Peninsula lies: Wladyslawowo (the name refers to the seven-
teenth-century, historical navy port of King Wladyslaw IV; there is a magnificent panorama of
the Hel Peninsula and the Gulf of Gdansk stretches from the high tower of the Municipal Of-
fice), the Cape Rozewie (with two lighthouses) and Jastrzebia Gora (with beautiful cliffs).
Gdynia, Sopot and Gdansk are the major holiday resorts, despite the dense urban devel-
opment, ports and industry. In Gdynia and Sopot are several thousand beds, and in Gdansk,
about 13 thousand. Sopot is famous because it’s historic Grand Hotel and monumental pier.
North of the conurbation lies Rzucewo (with a neo-Gothic castle of the nineteenth cen-
tury, surrounded by old, reaching almost to the sea park), Puck (a nice town with colourful
houses on the market, the historic Gothic church of St. Peter and Paul, the most beautiful
wooden pier in Poland and yacht harbour).
To the east of the mouth of the Vistula River is the Vistula Spit – a strip of sand and
dunes stretching the length of about 50 km from Gdansk to Baltiysk (Russia). The largest width
of the spit is 2000 m (at a height of Przebrna), and its narrowest place (600 m) lies to the east of
Krynica Morska. From the Gulf of Gdansk it is surrounded by fine sandy strip of beach for which
the land rises rapidly, passing a row of dunes covered with mixed forest. Sea resorts situated
here are: Mikoszewo, Jantar, Stegna (with beautiful eighteenth-century church, with overhead
on the ceiling model sailing ship from 1872), Sztutowo, Katy Rybackie (Pol. Kąty Rybackie) and
Krynica Morska (the main resort with 8 thousand beds).
In the hinterland of major centres of tourism lie Elblag, Frombork and Malbork, with
mighty castle of the great masters of Teutonic Knights.
Marinas in the shoreland are located in Port Dziwnow, Port Gdansk, Port Gdynia, Port
Puck, Port Kolobrzeg, Port Leba, Port Szczecin and Port Trzebiez.
Sanitary condition of beaches in Poland is monitored by sanitary inspectorate. Sixteen
Voivodeship Sanitary Inspectorates every week (during touristic season) check the status of
sites in their area. Below are listed Baltic beaches closed for sanitary reasons during 2007-2009:
year 2007:
- Miedzyzdroje – 14 days, faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli,
- Bobolin – all season,
- Darlowko – 4 days, faecal coliforms,
- Kopan – all season,
- Gdynia – all season;
year 2008:
- Miedzyzdroje – bathing prohibition because of Salmonella sp.,
- Gdynia – bacteriological contamination, all season;
Year 2009:
- Gdynia – bacteriological contamination, all season,
- Suchacz,
- Hadyna ,
- Tolkmicko,
- Frombork,
- Nowa Pasleka.
2.1.6. Transport
Shoreland’s transport infrastructures clustered around the Szczecin-Gdansk axis, run-
ning parallel to the coast. On the coast there are two key crossroads for European road transit
router – corridor IA (Helsinki-Tallinn-Riga-Kaliningrad-Gdaosk), a branch of Corridor I (Helsinki-
Tallinn-Riga-Kaunas-Warsaw) and corridor VI (Gdaosk-Katowice-Žilina), connecting Scandinavia
with Central and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean.
Road infrastructure for national and international importance is:
• A1 – currently linking Gdansk with Grudziądz (in 2012 A1 motorway will connect northern
Poland wit southern and will be part of the international route E75, leading to the Mediter-
ranean),
• A6 – a distance of 29 km from state border to Szczecin (planned expansion of the section
Szczecin-Gdaosk),
• National Road No. 1 (E75) – linking northern Poland (Gdaosk) and south (Cieszyn), repre-
senting one of the main north-south routes in Poland,
• National Road No. 3 (Świnoujście-Goleniów-Szczecin-Zielona Gora-state border) lies within
the international road E-65,
• National Road No. 6 (E28) – linking Gdansk with Germany (via Szczecin),
• National Road No. 7 (E77/E28) – linking Gdansk and Warsaw,
• National Road No. 10 (state border-Szczecin),
• National Road No. 11 (Kolobrzeg-Koszalin-Bobolice-Szczecinek),
• National Road No. 13 (Szczecin-state border),
• National Road No 20 – connecting Pomerania province with western Poland,
• National Road No 21 – linking national road No. 6 to the national road No. 20,
• National Road No 22 – leading from the Polish/Russian border crossing into in Grzechotki
to the border crossing to Germany in Kostrzyn,
• National Road No 55 – leading to Grudziądz right side of the Vistula,
• Expressway S3 – Swinoujscie-border with the Czech Republic (Lubawka), under construc-
tion,
• Highway S6 – Goleniów-Gdaosk,
• Route S11 – Koszalin-Pyrzowice,
• Expressway S22 – Elbląg-Grzechotki (border crossing).
What’s more, there are about 90 roads of local/provincial importance.
Fig. 77. Roads network in Poland: autostrady – motorways, autostrady planowane lub w bu-
dowie – motorways planned or under construction, drogi krajowe dwujezdniowe – dual
carriageway roads, drogi krajowe – national roads (source: www.wsipnet.pl)
Water trails for inland waterway transport have a length of 3 640 km. The main are riv-
ers Odra (especially in the vicinity of Szczecin) and Vistula (especially in the vicinity of Gdansk).
In the Polish shoreland there are 4 railway lines important for international traffic and
25 of local importance. Main railways are: from Szczecin to Gdansk by the border with Ger-
many; from Gdansk via Warsaw and Krakow to the border with the Czech Republic and Slova-
kia; from Bydgoszcz, Gdansk, Lodz and Katowice to the western and southern borders; from
Gdansk via Olsztyn to Kaliningrad or to Belarus via Bialystok.
International traffic on the coast is available through dozens of border crossings. Marine
border crossings are in Swinoujscie (passenger and freight), Trzebiez (passenger and freight),
Nowe Warpno (passenger), Szczecin-Port (passenger and freight), Dziwnow (only for sports and
goods only for the Polish fishermen), Mrzezyno (freight only for Polish fishermen), Kolobrzeg
(passenger and freight), Darlowo (passenger and freight), Ustka (passenger and freight), Leba
(only for sports and goods only for the Polish fishermen), Wladyslawowo (passenger and
freight), Jastarnia (only for sports and goods only for the Polish fishermen), Hel (passenger and
freight), Gdynia (passenger and freight), Gdansk-Port (passenger and freight), Gdansk-West
Hills (only for sports and goods only for the Polish fishermen), Elblag (passenger and freight),
Frombork (passenger and freight). There are also two aviation/airport border crossings, both of
passenger and freight profile – Gdansk-Rębiechowo and Szczecin-Goleniów. On the Polish-
Russian border there are also road border crossings (Bezledy-Bagrationovsk – passenger and
freight, Goldap-Gusev – passenger and freight for vehicles weighing less than 7.5 tonnes,
Gronowo-Mamonowo – for citizens of all countries and goods for the Polish and Russian citi-
zens, vehicles weighing up to 6.0 tonnes) and three rail border crossings (Braniewo-Mamonowo
– passenger and freight, Glomno-Bagrationovsk – freight, Skandawa-Zeleznodrozhniy – freight).
2.1.7. Fishery
Poland has direct access to the Baltic Sea 775 km in length. Thus there are natural condi-
tions for the development of marine economy. Maritime transport, port services and fishery,
after a period of transition, facing a crisis but still are important business of the coast, develop-
ing a significant portion of income and employment.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Fisheries in
the ministry are the competent bodies for fisheries management in Poland. The three Regional
Inspectorates of Fisheries, located in Szczecin, Slupsk and Gdynia, are responsible for manage-
ment, monitoring and surveillance of fisheries at territorial level. Established in 2004, the Fish-
eries Monitoring Centre in Gdynia is responsible for operating the VMS (Vessel Monitoring Sys-
tem) and fisheries reporting system (catch and landings reports).
In 2008, the Polish fishery fleet consisted of 836 watercrafts (about 34 fewer than in
2007), with a total gross capacity GT of 41.0 thousand (31.5% more than in 2007) and the
power of 99.1 thousand kW (10.6% more than in 2007). Despite the decline in the fishing fleet
(under the 2004 decommissioning programme, 40 percent of fleet capacity has been with-
drawn and the number of units reduced by over 360 vessels), vessels have improved their per-
formance, reflecting the gradual replacement of the fleet with newer, more efficient units. In
2008 fish catches amounted to 123.9 thousand tons. Although still dominated by the Baltic Sea
fisheries (76.2% of total catch), it is observed a gradual increase in the importance of deep-sea
fisheries.
Polish marine fishery include following sectors:
boat (coastal) fisheries operating in territorial waters (in 2008, 634 such boats were regis-
tered (80 less than in 2005), with some 1 500 active fishers; the total catch from coastal
fishery amounted in 2005 to about 15 000 t – mainly cod, flatfish and herring),
cutter fishery operating mainly in Polish exclusive economic zone and Baltic Sea (cutter
fishery employed more than 1 000 people in 2008, working on 249 vessels (51 less than in
2005); in 2005, the cutters fleet landed 109 000 t (mainly sprat and herring), which corre-
sponded to almost 90% of total Polish catches),
deep-sea factory trawler fishery operating in international waters (the high-seas fleet con-
sist only 4 vessels; in 2005, high-seas catches amounted to 6 426 t (mainly krill, redfish,
herring, cod and saithe); the distant-water fishing fleet operates in the fishing grounds of
the northeast Atlantic – groundfish fishery, northwest Atlantic – shrimp fishery, Atlantic
Antarctic – krill fishery).
Fig. 78. Structure
of Poland’s catches
in 2008 (blue –
saltwater fish,
green – ma-rine
invertebrates, light
blue – freshwa-ter
fish; source: Sea
Fisheries Institute
in Gdynia, Statisti-
cal Office in
Szczecin)
Inland fishery in Poland comprises fish farming/fish breeding (aquaculture; about 400-
500 farms; mainly carp and rainbow trout). Farms are mainly engaged in fish production,
freshwater commercial capture fishery and recreational fishing. In 2005, production of freshwa-
ter species from inland fisheries amounted to 55 000 t, of which 36 000 t was from aquaculture,
3 000 t from professional catches from lakes and 16 000 t from recreational fisheries (anglers’
catches).
Substantial part of the fish caught is for direct human consumption (in 2005, about
95 000 t). In 2005, 207 000 t of fish and fish products were exported from Poland, mainly to
Germany and Denmark (30 000 t, mainly sprats). In terms of financial outcome, fish processing
(separating of raw materials edible parts and processing into highly processed products like
canned, marinated, smoked, and salted) is currently very important for the fish sector in Poland
and, for a few years, has the highest growth rate in the food industry. In the same time, from
the perspective of the national economy, the marine harvesting sector is of very marginal im-
portance.
There are six scientific institutes in Poland that carry out fishery and marine environ-
ment research – the Sea Fisheries Institute in Gdynia, the Inland Fisheries Institute, West Pom-
eranian University of Technology, Maritime University in Szczecin, Institute of Oceanography of
the Polish Academy of Sciences in Sopot and Marine Biology Centre of Polish Academy of Sci-
ences in Gdynia.
Fig. 79. Polish fishing
fleet (source: Central
Statistical Office, Sta-
tistical Office in
Szczecin)
Fig. 80. Fish and shellfish
catches (source: Central Sta-
tistical Office, Statistical Of-
fice in Szczecin)
Fig. 81. Structure of the Polish fishing
fleet (source: Central Statistical Of-
fice, Statistical Office in Szczecin)
Fig. 82. Fish and shellfish catches by species (source: Central Statistical Office, Statistical Office
in Szczecin)
Fig. 83. Sea fish, shellfish and freshwater fish catches (source: Central Statistical Office, Statisti-
cal Office in Szczecin)
2.2. Private settlements close to the water
Almost all the Polish coastal towns have their own sewage treatment plants and almost
all municipalities have a sewer system. The problem is the low level of sewerage on the rural
settlement units (80%). The water consumption in cubic meters per capita in sea-bordered
provinces in 2008 was: West Pomeranian – 37.9 in cities and 31.2 in villages, Pomeranian – 36.8
in cities and 25.6 in villages, Warmian-Masurian – 35.1 in cities and 25.6 in villages, and is
rather average in the whole country scale. The length of the sewage pipeline network in km per
100 square km in 2008 was: West Pomeranian – 59.8, Pomeranian – 110, Warmian-Masurian –
73.3. The highest rate of sewerage pipeline network growth has Pomeranian and West Pom-
eranian voivodeships. In the same time the rate of wastewater discharged is the highest in
Warmian-Masurian province. Municipal waste per capita (in kg) generated in 2008 was as fol-
low: West Pomeranian – 368, Pomeranian – 346, Warmian-Masurian – 301.
There are 3 provinces, 18 counties and 38 communes bordered with the Baltic Sea in Po-
land. In western part of the Polish shoreland there is:
large urban agglomerations:
- Szczecin – 406 307 inhabitants, area 300.55 km²,
- Koszalin – 107 986 inhabitants, area 98.34 km²;
larger cities:
- Kołobrzeg – 44 890 inhabitants, area 25.67 km²,
- Świnoujście – 40 765 inhabitants, area 197.23 km²;
other municipalities:
- Postomino – 6 986 inhabitants, area 227.24 km²,
- Darłowo – 7 677 inhabitants, area 269.45 km²,
- Mielno – 5 077 inhabitants, area 62.13 km²,
- Będzino – 8 369 inhabitants, area 166.19 km²,
- Ustronie Morskie – 3 613 inhabitants, area 52.27 km²,
- Trzebiatów – 16 705 inhabitants, area 225.14 km²,
- Rewal – 3 439 inhabitants, area 41.23 km²,
- Dziwnów – 4 196 inhabitants, area 37.97 km²,
- Kamieo Pomorski – 14 496 inhabitants, area 208.57 km²,
- Międzyzdroje – 6 570 inhabitants, area 109.88 km²,
- Wolin – 12 327 inhabitants, area 327.41 km²,
- Stepnica – 4 770 inhabitants, area 293.22 km²,
- Goleniów – 33 756 inhabitants, area 442.77 km²,
- Police – 41 416 inhabitants, area 251.42 km²,
- Nowe Warpno – 1 549 inhabitants, area 197.07 km².
The eastern part of the Polish coast:
large metropolitan area – Gdaosk-Gdynia-Sopot conurbation (Tricity, Pol. Trójmiasto):
- Gdaosk – 455 830 inhabitants, area 265 km²,
- Gdynia – 248 889 inhabitants, area 135 km²,
- Sopot – 38 619 inhabitants, area 17.31 km²;
large urban agglomeration:
- Słupsk – 97 087 inhabitants, area 43.15 km2;
larger cities:
- Pruszcz Gdaoski – 26 298 inhabitants, area 16.47 km²,
- Elbląg – 126 419 inhabitants, area 79.82 km²;
other municipalities:
- Ustka – 7 322 inhabitants, area 218.10 km²,
- Smołdzino – 3 495 inhabitants, area 257.24 km²,
- Łeba – 3 744 inhabitants, area 14.81 km²,
- Wicko – 5 462 inhabitants, area 216.08 km²,
- Choczewo – 5 620 inhabitants, area 183.23 km²,
- Krokowa – 9 958 inhabitants, area 211.83 km²,
- Puck – 21 299 inhabitants, area 243.29 km²,
- Wejherowo – 47 188 inhabitants, area 26.65 km²,
- Władysławowo – 15 059 inhabitants, area 39.22 km²,
- Jastarnia – 3 925 inhabitants, area 7.80 km²,
- Hel – 4 037 inhabitants, area 21.27 km²,
- Kosakowo – 8 540 inhabitants, area 47.37 km²,
- Cedry Wielkie – 6 177 inhabitants, area 124.28 km²,
- Stegna – 9 531 inhabitants, area 169.57 km²,
- Sztutowo – 3 551 inhabitants, area 107.49 km²,
- Krynica Morska – 1 339 inhabitants, area 116.01 km²,
- Tolkmicko – 6 631 inhabitants, area 225.30 km²,
- Frombork – 3 793 inhabitants, area 125.82 km²,
- Braniewo – 6 428 inhabitants, area 306.93 km2.
For the protection of sea coasts in Poland the maritime administration (Maritime Of-
fices) is responsible. For security duties include: construction, maintenance and protection of
coastal fortifications, and afforestation of coastal dunes in the protective technology belt. The
document creating the long-term protection of the banks, which have a maritime administra-
tion, is the Coastal Protection Strategy (Pol. Strategia Ochrony Brzegów Morskich, 2001). This is
a multivolume study commissioned by the maritime authorities of the Maritime Institute. The
prerequisite to the formulation of strategy was the implementation of coastal protection cover-
ing large sections of the coast. Proper protection of sea coasts requires a systematic and com-
prehensive legislative action, organizational, planning and research as well as incurring signifi-
cant financial outlays.
Sea coast protection is a complex processes that control the bank at different spatial
and temporal scales, in order to maintain the edge, while preserving the natural environment.
The protection of the coast prevents such phenomena as sea floods, destruction of infrastru-
cture, loss of natural assets, the destruction of dunes, cliffs, beaches and the possibility of brake
in the spit (f.i. Hel Peninsula). There are technical and biological methods of bank protection.
In the case of erosion of the sea can take the following actions – (1) not combat, coming
to terms with the loss or postponement of a solution of the problem for the future, (2) moving
of objects in risk in a different place or (3) start actions to strengthen of the shore in order to
stop or delay erosion.
Damaged dune fixation is achieved in stages. In late spring on the front of the dunes ris-
ing special hurdles, then planted sand ryegrass, and a year later, sea pea. In subsequent years
shall be the willow and sea buckthorn, and then two years old black pine seedlings (biological
methods). There is also protection the seashore from the destructive effects of storm waves:
cliffs – con-crete ties, barriers – palisade spurs, low-lying areas – flood embankments (technical
methods, coastal defence structures). Main coastal defence structures are located near
Wiselka-Swietousc, Miedzywodzie-Dziwnowek, Niechorze, Mrzezyno, Kolobrzeg-Ustronie Mor-
skie, Gaski-Chlopy-Mielno-Uniescie, Dabkowice-Dabki, Darlowo-Wicie-Jaroslawiec, Orzechowo,
Rowy, Karwienskie Bloto-Jastrzebia Gora-Rozewie, Wladyslawowo-Chalupy (on both sides of
the Hel Peninsula), Kuznica (on both sides of the Hel Peninsula), Tri-city and Kadyny-Tolkmicko
(Vistula Lagoon).
Experimentally, for searching for new solutions for the shore protection system, was also
used geotextiles (Kolobrzeg and Uniescie) and waveblock system (Kolobrzeg). The effectiveness
of these buildings in the protection of the shore is at the stage of observation and analysis.
Any investments, which are supposed to be implemented in coastal areas, require a de-
cision/approval of local government units, in which there is a such area. Such decision – before
passing – must get a positive opinion of the Director of Maritime Office, which governs this
area, and of the Regional Directorate of Environment Protection. Each case (each application) is
considered individually. The decision/approval includes detailed environmental determinants of
the investment.
According to the Polish law so-called coastal strip (belt) is isolated along the coast. It is a
strip of land, ranging from 110 m to 3500 m inland from the coastline. Coastal belt consists of a
technical belt and buffer (protective) belt. Their widths are respectively from 1910 to 1000 m
(technical) and 100-2500 m (protective) and are dependent on local conditions, terrain forms
and the manner and intensity of the impact of the sea to the shore. Principles and methods for
determining both belts are defined in the Council of Ministers’ Decree on the minimum and
maximum width of technical and protective strips, and how to determine their boundaries. All
activities in this narrow coastal strip set the Law of 21 March 1991 regarding the maritime ar-
eas of Republic of Poland and the maritime administration.
Technical belt is defined as an area which is the direct impact zone of the reciprocal of
the sea and land, which is intended to maintain the edge that it complies with safety and envi-
ronmental protection. Protective belt is an area where human activity has a direct impact on
the technical belt. For the construction and maintenance of shore protection constructions,
conservation and afforestation of the dunes, or for security, maritime administration is respon-
sible.
Maritime administration is a two-level body. The bodies of the first, regional level are
the directors of Maritime Offices, and the body of the second level is the minister responsible
for maritime affairs. The specific nature of the coastal strip and adjacent sea area is reflected in the
competence of civil government (local and state) and the maritime administration in these areas.
Marine waters, including the seabed within the territory of the country are owned by
the National Treasury, in whose name ownership rights does Minister responsible for maritime
affairs. That area is managed by directors of Maritime Offices. Sea area cannot be sold, but only
put in use for a specified period, under a contract concluded by aforementioned minister. Deci-
sions regarding the use of the maritime area are taken by maritime administration (minister or
director of Maritime Office.) Exceptions are concessions for mineral extraction, which appears
to the Minister of Environment Protection, as well as construction permits and water-legal
permits, which appears to province governor (voivode). Land use planning projects of the sea
area (developed by the maritime administration) must be agreed with the municipali-
ties/communes administration.
In case of technical belt all forms of ownership are possible (the State, municipalities,
personal ownership). National Treasury is represented by the county prefect (Pol. starosta). In
this area decisions are made by the municipality or the province governor (building permits), but
all decisions regarding the planning, erection and reconstruction of buildings, change of ownership
or lease of land, changes in land use and water-legal permits must be agreed with the compe-
tent director of Maritime Office. In addition, it is not allowed to establish any hunting grounds.
All forms of property are also possible in the protective belt. National Treasury is repre-
sented by province governor. The decision-making powers for this area are the same as for the
entire rest of the community, outside of the coastal belt. However, it is necessary to agreed
with director of Maritime Office the same matters as in the technical belt.
In addition, under the Water Law Act, coastal zone is an area of imminent flooding and there-
fore, any changes to buildings and terrain, as well as changes in shrub and foliage are prohibi-
ted. Decisions to exempt from these prohibitions are issued by the director of Maritime Office.
2.3. Military infrastructure
The only Polish military training ground located on the shores of the Baltic Sea is the
Central Air Forces Proving Ground. It is located between Ustka and Jaroslawiec, on Lake Wicko,
and has an area of about 4 000 hectares. Once separated from the rest of the land by security
fence, now open and watched an ad hoc basis (stations on the road entrances) and closes to
outsiders only during military exercises.
At the training ground Wicko Morskie village is situated, as well as disused airport.
Since 2007 the Polish government was negotiating with the United States of America of a treaty
concerning the placement of an anti-missile shield in Poland. Military training ground in Ustka
was taken into account as one of the locations to place the elements of this defence system.
The authorities of Postomino commune, in which there is a training ground, were opposed to
this project due to blocking the development of tourism.
On the training field exercises are carried out periodically (combat shooting – rocket and
aerial), resulting in the closure of maritime zones for shipping and fisheries. One of the shooting
zones goes beyond the boundaries of Polish territorial waters, and during military excersises is
declared dangerous to shipping. This creates difficulties for local fishermen and constraints for
the development of marine tourism.
In the Polish territorial waters are located four other areas where there are military wa-
ters (northeast of Miedzyzdroje and northwest of Przybierowo, along the northern coast of the
Hel Peninsula, at the entrance to the Bay of Puck, north of Katy Rybackie, at the basis of the
Vistula Spit). Their exact boundaries, however, are confidential.
3. Nature protection
3.1. Protected areas
Several types of nature protection areas were established in the Polish Shoreland. Those
are national parks, landscape parks, nature reserves, NATURA 2000 sites, Baltic Sea Protected
Areas, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Baltic Sea fisheries closure.
National park is a form of nature protection area that is established and owned by the
government. Such areas are set for ecosystems protection and conservation, as well as for hu-
man education, recreation and enjoyment. Even if national parks are restricted from most de-
velopment and not allowed to settle, at least to some extent are open to the public. Two most
valuable parts of the Polish coast are protected as national parks – Wolinski National Park (Pol.
Wolioski Park Narodowy) and Slowinski National Park (Pol. Słowioski Park Narodowy).
Wolinski National Park is located at the mouth of Odra River, in West Pomeranian
Voivodship. It protects highly valuable north-western part of the Wolin Island, Baltic coastal
waters in the north, delta of Swina River, part of Pomeranian Bay and inner salt waters of
Szczecin Bay. The Park was established in 1960 and its area is 10 937 ha, of which forests cover-
ing 4 530 ha. Moraine hills covering about 75% of the park area and the most characteristic
elements are 15 km long and 95 m high cliffs.
In the park over 1 300 vascular plant species have been recorded, including many rare
and protected plants, like sea-beach sandwort (Honckenya peploides), lyme grass (Elymus
arenaria), sea rocket (Cakile edentula), spiny saltwort (Salsola kali), and salt water plants. There
are two reserves in the southern part of the Park with valuable beech forest communities (un-
der strict protection) and one in its northern part, where the orchid beech wood occurs. Among
animal species, which inhabiting the park, the most noteworthy are white-tailed sea eagle
(Haliaeëtus albicilla), aquatic warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola), dunlin (Calidris alpina), red-
breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva), eagle owl (Bubo bubo), stag beetle (Lucanus servus), grey
seal (Halichoerus grypus) and harbour porpoise (Phocaena phocaena).
The tourist infrastructure of the park is well developed and include educational centre,
natural history museum, European bison (Bison bonasus) breeding centre, 4 observation points
(f.i. Gosao and Kawcza Góra), 3 parking areas, network of tourist routes (appr. 46 km) and edu-
cational trails.
Fig. 84. Map of the Wolinski National Park (park area marked by green colour; source:
www.ptaki-haniutka14v.blog.onet.pl/Wolinski-Park-Narodowy,2,ID410539527,n)
Slowinski National Park was founded in 1967 to preserve a unique in Europe dune belt
of spits with moving dunes, system of seaside lakes (like Gardno and Łebsko lakes), bogs, peat-
bogs, meadows, seaside woods and forests. It is situated in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, be-
tween Łeba and Rowy, and consists of 32.5 kilometres of coastline.
Almost 80% of the Park area constitutes waters (sea, lakes, peatbogs, bogs) and these
terrains are the habitats of the rare and protected plants (peat mosses, sundews, clubmosses,
orchidaceous plant/Goodyera repens, yellow everlastings/Helichrysum arenarium, sea-hollies/
Eryngium maritimum, beak sedge/Rhynchospora fusca, toad-flax/Linaria odora, sedge/Carex
limosa) and animals (wasp spider/Agriope bruennichi, salmon/Salmo salar, brown trout/Salmo
trutta, eel/Anguila anguila, grass snake/Natrix natrix, adder/Vipera berus, sea eagle/Haliaeetus
albicilla, red kite/Milvus mil-vus, marshes-marsh harrier/Circus aeruginosus, hen harrier/Circus
cyaneus, eagle owl/Bubo bubo (the largest European owl), Tengmalm's owl/Aeogolius funereus,
short-eared owl/Asio flammeus, Miller's water shrew/Neomys anomalus, parti-coloured
bat/Vespertilio murinus, porpoise/Phocoena phocoena, gray seal/Halichoerus grypus).
Because of high natural value of the Slowinski National Park it has been entered on the
list of international protected areas (HELCOM BSPA, World Nature Sanctuary, Ramsar wetland
area).
Fig. 85. Map of the Slowinski National Park (yellow – dunes, green – forests, red dashed line –
park’s border; source: www.slowinskipn.pl)
The park has well developed touristic infrastructure – educational centre, natural history
museum, around 140 kilometres of walking tourist trails, observation towers and parking sites.
Only selected areas of the Park are designed for tourism practicing.
Due to the Polish Nature Protection Act, landscape park covers an area protected be-
cause of the value of natural, historical and cultural landscapes, to preserve and popularize
these values in terms of sustainable development. It is possible to continue business with cer-
tain restrictions in such parks. There are four coastal landscape parks in Poland.
Coastal Landscape Park (Pol. Nadmorski Park Krajobrazowy) was established in 1978.
Area of the park is 18 804 ha (of which 7 452 ha of land and 11 352 hectares of marine waters
in the Bay of Puck). Park is located within the Kashubian Shoreland and Hel Peninsula, in Pom-
eranian Voivodeship. There are all types of sea shores, characteristic for the southern Baltic Sea
– cliffs, coastal dunes, marshy coast – in the park. This diversity results from the dynamic of
geomorphological processes occurring at the interface between land and sea, such as abrasion,
accumulation and aeolian processes.
Park’s flora consist unique halophytes, dune plant communities, cloudberry (Rubus
chamaemorus), and fauna – wood sandpiper (Tringa glareola), dunlin (Calidris alpina), eurasian
oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus). To preserve natural and landscape values of the
Coastal Landscape Park and its buffer zone, 14 nature reserves, two ecological areas, a position
of inanimate nature documentary and two NATURA 2000 areas of special bird protection were
created.
Fig. 86. Coastal Landscape Park (source: www.npk.org.pl)
The Vistula Spit Landscape Park (Pol. Park Krajobrazowy Mierzeja Wiślana) was establi-
shed in 1985, covers an area of 4 410 ha and protects a part of the spit enclosing the Vistula
Lagoon in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. Vistula Spit is a narrow strip of land between the Gulf
of Gdansk and the Vistula Lagoon, with strings of dunes covered with coastal pine forest, which
in some places is mixed with oak and beech.
In the park two nature reserves was created to protect natural beech forest, as well as
great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and grey heron (Ardea cinerea) breeding site. From the
open sea there are communities of tall grasses and grasslands on the dunes. There are 43 pro-
tected and rare plant species in the park, like sea holly (Eryngium maritimum), sand sedge
(Carex arenaria), common honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum), common seabuckthorn (Hip-
pophaë rhamnoides), common sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), dwarf everlas (Helichrysum
arenarium), orchids, Lycopods and lichens.
Vistula Spit is one of Europe's major migratory routes of birds – 232 species of birds, of
which 107 nests within the park and its buffer zone were found there. In the Katy Rybackie Re-
serve is the largest in Poland and one of the largest in Europe breeding colony of cormorants.
The park is also home to many species of mammals, most important of which is a gray seal
(Halichoerus grypus) and bats. NATURAl attraction is the turquoise variety blindworm (Anguis
fragilis).
Fig. 87. Map of the Vistula Spit Landscape Park (dark green – park’s area, light green – park buf-
fer zone, reed – reserves; source: www.parkmierzeja.pl)
Tricity Landscape Park (Pol. Trójmiejski Park Krajobrazowy) was established in 1979 and
covering an area of 19 930 hectares (Pomeranian Voivodeship). Within the park are 10 nature
reserves. The most valuable natural assets of the park are unique postglacial landforms, like
moraine hills, sandy plains, gutters and lake basin melt.
Beech forest is predominant plant community. Park is reach in many species of pro-
tected plants, including: mezereon (Daphne mezereum), Turk's cap lily (Lilium martagon), Euro-
pean globe-flower (Trollius europaeus), sundew (Drosera sp.), spring quillwort (Isoetes echino-
spora; there is the last real stronghold of this species to the south of the Baltic Sea in the park),
Lycopods, orchids, lichenes and macrofungis.
The park is home to many species of birds (f.i. white-tailed eagle/Haliaeetus albicilla,
black stork/Ciconia nigra, Tengmalm’s owl/ Aegolius funereus, raven/Corvus corax), mammals
(f.i. otter/Lutra lutra, water shrew/Neomys fodiens, noctule/Nyctalus noctula, greater mouse-
eared bat/Myotis myoti), amphibians (f.i. fire-bellied toad/Bombina bombina, natterjack toad
/Epidalea calamita, tree frog/Hyla arborea, spadefoot/Pelobates fuscus), reptiles (f.i. ad-
der/Vipera berus) and insects (swallowtail/Papilio machaon, hermit beetle/Osmodrama ere-
mita, long-horn Beetle/Leptura maculata).
Fig. 88. Map of the Tricity Landscape Park (dark green dashed line – park’s border; source:
www.tpkgdansk.pl)
Elblag Upland Landscape Park (Pol. Park Krajobrazowy Wysoczyzny Elbląskiej) was estab-
lished in 1985, is located in Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship and covers an area of 13 460 hec-
tares. Within the park are five nature reserves.
Fig. 89. Map of the Elblag Upland Landscape Park (dark green dashed line – park’s border;
source: www.tpkgdansk.pl)
Elblag Upland is a large piece of corrugated ground moraine hills with teams called
drumlins. Very characteristic for the park’s flora are species typical for mountain and foothill
areas. There are also many protected species, like pockmarked aconite (Aconitum variegatum),
mezereon (Daphne mezereum), foxglove wheat (Digitalis grandiflora), giant horsetail (Equise-
tum telmateia), hake (Huperzia selago), hake clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum), marsh (Ledum
palustre), Turk's cap lily (Lilium martagon), ostrich fern (Matteucci struthiopteris), spotted or-
chid (Dactylorhiza maculata), helleborine (Epipactis heneborine), yellow water-lily (Nuphar
lutea), white water-lily (Nymphaea alba), periwinkle (Vinca minor). It is worth to mention about
wild garlic (Allium ursinum), giant horsetail (Equisetum telmateia) or white butterbur (Petasites
albus).
Among many animal species are: white-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), honey buzzard
(Pernis apivorus), goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), lesser spotted
eagle (Aquila pomarina), osprey (Pandion haliaetus), rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus)
crane (Grus grus), black stork (Ciconia nigra), shelduck (Tadorna Tadorna), pigeon bruising
(Columba oenas), green woodpecker (Picus viridis), grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea), otter (Lutra
lutra), dormouse (Glis glis), hazel dormouse (Muscarinus avellanarius), moose (Alces alces), sika
deer (Cervus nippon; a gift from the Emperor of Japan for Wilhelm II in 1910), wolf (Canis lu-
pus), adder (Vipera berus), ordinary worm (Anguis fragilis), spadefoot (Pelobates fuscus), toad
(Bufo bufo).
Nature reserves, according to the Polish Nature Protection Act, are areas in natural or
slightly changed conditions – ecosystems, refuges and habitats of plants, animals and fungi, as
well as formations and elements of inanimate nature, characterized by outstanding enviro-
nmental, scientific, cultural or landscape values.
Currently, there are 164 nature reserves in the Pomeranian Voivodeship (including one
large-area natural reserve Mierzeja Sarbska, covering lenght of 5 km of coast), 104 in the War-
mian-Masurian Voivodeship and 114 in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. On the Polish Baltic
coast there are also protected landscape areas, which cover a total of 139 km of coast.
Baltic Sea Protected Areas (BSPA), according to HELCOM Recommendation 15/5 (1994),
entitled: SYSTEM OF COASTAL AND MARINE PROTECTED AREAS BALTIC SEA (BSPA), are areas,
which were established to protect representative ecosystems of the Baltic Sea as well as to
guarantee sustainable use of natural resources as an important contribution to ensure ample
provident protection of environment and of biodiversity. BSPA must be characterized by repre-
sentativeness of hydrography, morphology and biology of the Baltic Sea, freedom from pollu-
tion and other human impacts, high biodiversity (should contain natural and stable groups of fauna
and flora), subjecting the systematic research and compliance with the educational features.
There are 5 BSPAs on the Poland’s marine territory:
Vistula Spit Landscape Park (Park Krajobrazowy Mierzeja Wislana) including surrounding
water areas,
Redlowo Reserve (Kepa Redlowska) including surrounding water areas,
Nadmorski Landscape Park (Nadmorski Park Krajobrazowy) including surrounding water areas,
Slowinski National Park (Slowinski Park Narodowy) including surrounding water areas,
Wolinski National Park (Wolinski Park Narodowy) including surrounding water areas.
Fig. 90. Polish coastal protected areas (light green – landscape parks, dark green – national
parks, 1. – Wolinski National Park, 2. – Slowinski National Park, 3. – Coastal Landscape
Park, 4. – Tricity Landscape Park, 5. – Vistula Spit Landscape Park, 6. – Elblag Upland
Landscape Park; source: pztikm.univ.szczecin.pl)
UNESCO Biosphere Reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting
solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use. They are inter-
nationally recognized, nominated by national governments and remain under sovereign juris-
diction of the states where they are located. Biosphere reserves serve in some ways as ”living
laboratories” for testing out and demonstrating integrated management of land, water and
biodiversity.
The only one UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on the Polish coast is the Slowinski UNESCO
Biosphere Reserve, located in the Slowinski National Park (Pomeranian Voivodeship). It was
created mainly because of habitats (in whole biotopes meaning) like marine/coastal wetlands,
sand dune communities, coastal pine communities and peat bogs.
Baltic Sea Fisheries Closure is an area closed for fishing, which is created according to EC
Council Regulation No 2187/2005 of 21 December 2005 for the conservation of fishery resources
through technical measures in the Baltic Sea, the Belts and the Sound (amending Regulation
(EC) No 1434/98 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 88/98). In such areas it is prohibited
throughout the year, to fish with any active gear. On the Polish sea territory there is one such
area, near the Polish-Germany exclusive economic zones border. In addition, there are also 3
Cod Fishery Closures, where cod fishery is prohibited since 1st May till 31st October (Council
Regulation 1098/2007). Those zones are located: on the border between Polish, Swedish and
Danish exclusive economic zones (1), on the border between Polish, Swedish and Russian exclu-
sive economic zones (2), on the border between Polish Territorial Waters and Polish exclusive
economic zone, near border with Russian exclusive economic zone (3).
Fig. 91. Fishery Closure (brown) and Cod Fishery Closure (blue) in the Polish waters (source:
www.maps.helcom.fi)
3.2. Unprotected areas
Legally protected areas do not cover all ecologically valuable sites in Poland. This mainly
applies to areas such as national and international core areas, biocentres and buffer zones, as
well as national and international ecological corridors. All mentioned zones are part of the
European ECOlogical NETwork (ECONET). The initiative to create the EECONET has been devel-
oped at the Maastricht conference in 1993.
The concept of a national ecological network ECONET-POLAND was developed in 1995
and 1996 as a research project National Nature Plan (NNP) under the European Programme of
the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The concept is thus an important
ECONET role in international cooperation, linking closely with the Convention on Biological Di-
versity (1992) and Pan-European strategy for the conservation of biodiversity and landscape
(1995).
ECONET-POLAND is the large-size spatial system of core areas, best preserved
in terms of its natural conditions and being representative for different regions of the country,
interrelated by ecological corridors to ensure the continuity of the natural relationships within
that system.
ECONET-POLAND network covers 46% of the Polish country. It consists of abovemen-
tioned core areas and ecological corridors connecting them, appointed on the basis of criteria
such as naturalness, diversity, representativeness, rarity and size. In total, 78 core areas (46
international and 32 national, which together comprise 31% of the country) and 110 ecological
corridors (38 international and 72 national, which together comprise 15% of the country) were
established. Network ECONET-POLAND also contains a legally protected areas (national and
landscape parks and reserves), wildlife refuges CORINE or important bird sites, which mostly
are "embedded" in the most valuable part of core areas, as so-called biocentres or centres of
biocenotical diversity (of regional and local importance). Buffer zones serve as a zone eliminat-
ing negative influences of the surrounding areas, on the core zone and biocentres.
In the Polish part of the South Baltic Shorelands there are 3 core areas, of average area
of 2 200 square kilometres. That covers almost all Poland’s coastline. Exact area covered by
particular elements of ECONET-POLAND network in the Polish shoreland is:
core areas:
- international – 15 821 km2,
- national – 109 km2;
ecological corridors: total – 19 867 km2
- international – 2 311 km2,
- national – 1 626 km2.
Coastal core areas in Poland are: Ujścia Odry (code 010M), Wybrzeża Bałtyku (code
02M), Ujścia Wisły (code 03M). Coastal ecological corridors include: Pobrzeża Kaszubskiego
(code 01m), Płoni (code 01k), Iny (code 02k), Regi (code 03k), Parsęty (code 04k), Radwi (code
05k), Grabowej (code 06k), Wieprzy (code 07k), Słupi (code 08k), Łupawy (code 09k), Redy-Łeby
(code 10k), Kwidzyoski Dolnej Wisły (code 02m), Kanału Elbląskiego (code 11k), Pasłęki (code
12k).
Fig. 92. ECONET-PO-
LAND on coastal areas
(source: www.ecolo-
gicalnetworks.eu)
3.3. NATURA 2000 areas
NATURA 2000 is the European Union-wide network of nature protection areas estab-
lished under the 1992 Habitats Directive (Sites of Community Importance), as well as 1979 Birds
Directive (Special Protection Areas). The aim of the network is to assure the long-term protect
and conserve Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats. On NATURA 2000
areas are mostly privately owned and most of human activities are allowed there, provided that
their management is sustainable, both ecologically and economically. NATURA 2000 network
fulfils a Community obligation under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
In Poland, till the end of 2009, 141 Special Protection Areas for birds and 364 Sites of
Community Importance were designated.
Fig. 93.
NATURA
2000 sites in
northern
Poland
(source:
www.ec.
europa.eu)
Tab. 1. Number of NATURA 2000 sites in northern Poland
Type of
NATURA
2000 site
Region
Total marine
areas
West Pom-
erania Pomerania
Varmia-
Masuria
Sites of
Community
Importance
(Habitats
Directive)
5
30
79
2.0
0 h
ecta
res
60
1 3
42
29
7.2
0 h
ect
are
s 95
79
2 0
78
.20
he
ctar
es
42
93
3 1
92
.90
he
ctar
es
202
3 0
98
36
0.3
0 h
ect
are
s
Special Pro-
tection Ar-
eas (Birds
Directive)
4 19 12 16 51
Marine NATURA 2000 sites are as follow: Ostoja na Zatoce Pomorskiej (code –
PLH990002, area – 243132.70 ha), Ostoja Słowioska (code – PLH220023, area – 32150.50 ha),
Ostoja w Ujściu Wisły (code – PLH220044, area – 883.50 ha), Przybrzeżne wody Bałtyku (code –
PLB990002, area – 194626.70 ha), Wolin i Uznam (code – PLH320019, aera – 30792.00 ha), Za-
toka Pomorska (code – PLB990003, area – 311877.30 ha), Zatoka Pucka (code – PLB220005,
area – 62430.40 ha), Zatoka Pucka i Półwysep Helski (code – PLH220032, area – 26844.30 ha)
and Ławica Słupska (code – PLC990001, area – 80050.30 ha).
4. History and culture
4.1. Introduction to historical and cultural background
The first people arrived in the area of Pomerania in the Stone Age, several thousand
years ago. Initially engaged in gathering plant food, hunting and fishing. To Vth century Goths
lived here. They marked the impact of Celtic culture in the region and left behind wonderful
items made of bronze. In ancient times, had developed trade with the Roman Empire. The main
subject of trade was the Baltic amber, which was transported by so-called Amber Trail, one of
the most important commercial routes of Europe. Amber Route runs from Aquileia through the
Moravian Gate and ended near present-day Gdansk.
In the VI/VII century Slavic tribes came and have worked on land cultivation and animal
husbandry. In the IX/X century have appeared strong centres of settlement, such as Wolin,
Szczecin, Kamieo, Stargard, Kołobrzeg, Białogard, Sławno and Gdaosk. Slavs dealt with metal-
lurgy and smithing, carpentry, coopery, turnery, weaving, tailoring, pottery, masonry, shoemak-
ing and manufacturing ornaments. Roads and ports engaged in trade with Russia, Scandinavia,
Czechs, Hungary, Germany and the Mediterranean countries. The left bank of the Odra River
was inhabited by Polabians Pomeranians tribes.
Fig. 94. Poland
during the reign
of Mieszko I and
Boleslaw I (sour-
ce: www.wikipe-
dia.org)
At the same time as the Slavs arrived on the western and central coast, the land be-
tween the Vistula and Nemen rivers was occupied by almost unknown tribes of the Baltic Prus-
sians. Prussian tribes and Slavs probably still have been involved in local wars and feuds.
Slavs establiseded local authorities, but at the end of the tenth century, during the con-
solidation of the Piast (Polans) state, Mieszko I subordinated most of the castles in west and
central part of Pomerania. The period of the reign of Boleslaw I is a constant war to maintain
Pomerania in the Polish borders, but even if it was conquered by the Polish kings, at the begin-
ning of the twelfth century began the process of extracting the West Pomerania as a separate
administrative unit. In the later period lasted Christianization of the area and the Pomerania
Principality (later Duchy of Pomerania) were established, including the island of Usedom (Pol.
Uznam) and Wolin and cities of Szczecin, Stargard, Kołobrzeg and Koszalin. In the same time
began the slow process of Germanization of Pomerania.
Closer ties with Krakow (capital of the Kingdom of Poland) showed only East Pomerania
but during feudal fragmentation of Poland it was captured by the Teutonic Knights, which came
to Christianize the Baltic Prussians.
XIIIth century was time of rapid development of Pomeranian cities and in XVth century
duke Boguslaw X has united sites of the region and created a powerful Duchy of Pomerania.
Szczecin, Elbląg, Gdaosk, Koszalin, Darłowo, Słupsk, Goleniów and Stargard joined the Hanseatic
Lague. In this time whole area of East Shoreland was under the influence of the Teutonic
Knights. New cities were founded then – Braniewo and Frombork. They also built a magnificent
castle in Malbork. After the Thirteen Years War (1454-1466) Gdaosk Shoreland passed into the
hands of Kingdom of Poland. City of Gdaosk has received from the Polish kings a lot of privi-
leges, so it could grew in power.
Fig. 95. Poland in 1600 (source: www.wikipedia.org)
Protestant Reformation movement significantly weakened the Polish influence on Pom-
erania region. Much of the population converted to Lutheranism. In the seventeenth century, the
Griffin dynasty died out and the Thirty Years' War led to the division of Western Pomerania – Swe-
den received its west part with Szczecin and the rest was given to the Electorate of Brandenburg.
Finally Brandenburg transformed into the Prussia and, after the partition of Poland in XVIIIth
century, took control over the entire West and Central Pomerania (with Gdansk and Elblag).
The nineteenth century was witness of the rapid development of industry supported by
the dynamic progress of the railway in the Pomerania. Cities have become rail links not only
with other urban centres, but also with forgotten fishery villages (f.i. Mędzyzdroje, Niechorze,
Rewal), which turned into fashionable resorts. At the end of the nineteenth century greatly
increased the importance of Elblag, which has become a competitive city of Gdansk. It was also
time of important engineering projects – ditch of the Vistula, Ostrodzko-Elblag Canal, built nu-
merous bridges, water-locks and drawbridges.
Fig. 96. Poland after the World War I (source: www.wikipedia.org)
After World War I, East Pomerania was annexed by Poland. Gdansk, with surrounding
areas has been proclaimed an autonomous Free City of Gdaosk (Pol. Wolne Miasto Gdaosk)
under the protection of the League of Nations. After regaining independence and access to the
sea the Republic of Poland needed a major seaport. Due to the convenient location its con-
struction began in Gdynia.
After World War II, under the Treaty of Potsdam in 1945, Szczecin Shoreland, Koszalin
Shoreland and Gdansk Shoreland coincided with Poland. Currently, the municipalities of Pom-
erania cooperate within Euro-regions, and nearly every town has twin cities in various parts of
Europe and the world.
Fig. 97. Poland’s territorial waters (red line) and exclusive economic zone (blue line) at present
(source: www.maps.helcom.fi)
Culture in Pomerania is a unique blend of Slavic tradition, the resultant rules and cus-
toms of the population came from eastern provinces, and the German influence, which were
present on these lands over the past four centuries. Very characteristic for this region is also
presence of Kashubians – an old Slavic group. Kashubs is one of the most distinctive cultural
and ethnic groups in Poland. Distinguished by their characteristic language (dialect) and rich
literature. This language is still alive in Poland using by about 300-500 thousand people. Ka-
shubs inhabit eastern Pomerania. Divided into coastal Kashubian (around Puck and Wejherowo)
and forest Kashubian (around Kartuzy and Koscierzyna, Bory Tucholskie).
Slovin culture is the result of a gradual transition of part of Kashubians for Protestant-
ism, mostly near Slupsk. Slavic villages contrasted with the surrounding towns inhabited largely
by Germanized people. Despite hundreds of years of the impact of German culture, the people
retained their distinct language, its own traditions and rituals.
4.2. Historic and cultural heritage
Historic and cultural heritage of the Pomerania is greatly affected by the closeness to
the sea and its destructive activity. The following are examples of damaged sites associated
with the proximity of the sea:
Ruins of a church in Trzęsacz – residue of the Gothic church of. St. Nicholas from the four-
teenth/fifteenth century; the temple was originally erected at a distance of approximately
2 km from the coast, in the middle of the village, but were destroyed as a result of abrasive
processes; until now only the south wall of the church located at the top of the cliff is left,
Beka – non-existent Kashubian fishery village, located in the county of Puck; the settlement
has ceased to exist in the early 60s due to abrasion,
Minister Beck’s Cottage – villa of the Polish pre-war minister of the foreign affairs, located
in Jastrzębia Góra village; it was collapsed as a result of progressive cliff subsidence (XXI c.).
Very characteristic for the Pomerania are also military monuments:
U-boats pool in Swinoujsce – founded in 1944, on the Karsibor island, as a permanent mili-
tary base for German U-boat flotilla,
Fortress complex along the river Swina in Swinoujscie – built in the years 1848-1863 and
1877-1900 and originally consist four forts – one of them was demolished after 1970 due
to the expansion of the Swinoujscie Port and three others (Fort Gerhard, Angel's Fort,
Western Fort) are opened for tourists,
Bunkers-Ustka – four German bunkers connected through a tunnel with the command cen-
tre and three smaller ones; in the immediate vicinity of the seashore, there are residue of
position for the largest guns of the World War II – "Dora" (with barrel length of 32 m,
height of 11 m, weighing 1 350 tonnes and operated by crew of about 500 people), moving
on two rail tracks,
Batteries Schleswig-Holstein in Hel – complex of six reinforced concrete batteries
Schleswig-Holstein, built by the Germans in 1940; on the batteries were assembled the
largest land gun – 40.6 cm SK C/34 – Adolf; the whole complex include 9-storey tower of
fire control, and two ammunition magazines,
Hel Fortified Area – set of Polish fortifications, constructed in 1936 on the Hel Peninsula;
during Polish September Campaign, it was the last place of Poland to surrender to the in-
vading Wehrmacht and during World War II, the naval base in Hel was used as a major
training facility for U-boat crews,
Fort Ujsce in Kołobrzeg – built between 1770-1774, at the mouth of the river Parsęta; in
the nineteenth century, brick lighthouse was built on it,
Old torpedo centre in Babie Doły (Gdynia) – German research centre of torpedoes torpedo,
built during the World War II; originally it was a torpedo assembly hall with facilities for test fir-
ing, which was built at the bottom of the reservoir, just a few hundred meters from shore,
Residues of V1 and V2 rocket launchers near Miedzyzdroje – the experimental missile test
ranges established over the Wicko Małe Lake in 1943,
Fortress Wisloujscie in Gdaosk – late Gothic stronghold in Gdansk (Wisłoujście district), on
the right bank of the Dead Vistula, near North Port, built in the fifteenth century, fortified
in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries; in the nineteenth century fortress served as
the prison; in 1945 the Red Army destroyed it and to this day, has not been fully restored.
Other important monuments of the Polish Shoreland are:
Ostroda-Elblag Canal (129.8 km) – a unique monument of technology in the world, which is
a tourist attraction and takes its beginning in Elblag,
Teutonic Knights Castle in Malbork – monumental, Gothic brick headquarters of the Grand Mas-
ter of the Order of Brothers of the German House Saint Mary in Jerusalem (Teutonic Knights),
Old Town in Gdansk – consist St. Mary's Church (the largest brick church in the world), me-
dieval port Crane, old town’s walls and gates (most famous is Golden Gate and Green
Gate), Main Town Hall, Artus Court, Long Market,
Frombork’s Cathedral Hill (“The Jewel of Warmia”) – with Gothic Cathedra, Tower of Co-
pernicus (astronomical observatory) and the Bishop's Palace.
5. Existence of Management Plans
5.1. For financial interests
5.1.1. National level
The main document guiding the government plans for coastal development is Strategy
for Development of Seaports by 2015 (Pol. Strategia rozwoju portów morskich do 2015 roku,
November 2007). This document is complementary to the Country’s Development Strategy
2007-2015 (Pol. Strategia Rozwoju Kraju na lata 2007 – 2015, November 2006) and provides a
basis to mobilize resources from the Operational Programme “Infrastructure and Environment”
(POIiŚ) under Action 7.2. The development of maritime transport, as well as 7.4. Development of
intermodal transport. This measuree improves the technical infrastructure of ports and their
surroundings.
The main objective of the Strategy... is to improve the competitiveness of Polish ports
and increase their participation in socio-economic development of the country and the upgrad-
ing of seaports in the international transport network. Strategy... is in line with the document
prepared by the Minister of Infrastructure – Assumptions of coastal development policies: to-
wards a national strategy for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (Pol. Założenia polityki
rozwoju obszarów przybrzeżnych – w kierunku narodowej strategii ZZOP, October 2005), which
assumes an infrastructure development of ports and marinas, their neighbourhood and in other
regions of the sea shore and the directions of changes in legal regulations concerning the man-
agement of marine areas, ports and ports’ regions. Implementation will led to improvement of
the transport system in Poland, which is also connected with short-term program of prepara-
tion to 2012 UEFA European Football Championship (EURO 2012) – Gdansk will be one of the
championship’s host city.
Strategy for development of seaports by 2015 is complementary with the Baltic Sea Re-
gion Programme 2007-2013 and VASAB 2010 Plus (Vision and Strategies around the Baltic Sea
2010), which envisages strengthening the role of spatial planning and development, of the
countries around the Baltic Sea, mainly by reducing development disparities, integrate and ex-
ploit the potential of the southern Baltic region, where transition and EU accession lead to par-
ticular challenges for sustainable development.
The state budget finances multi-annual programs connected with coastal development –
National Programme for 2008-2011. Building a safety net for the breakwater for outside port of
Swinoujscie and National Programme for 2008-2013. Construction of the waterway linking the
Vistula Lagoon with the Gulf of Gdansk. Implementation of the projects covered by these pro-
grams will improve access of the Swinoujscie and Elblag ports to the sea. Thus allows extending
capacity building and improving the international competitiveness of these ports.
Apart from the POIiŚ also other EU programmes are being implemented. One of them is
the Operational Programme European Fisheries Fund 2007-2013. The main objectives of this
programme are:
adaptation of the EU fishing fleet (promotion of profitable and sustainable fisheries in
maritime areas, permanent cessation of activity of fishing vessels, improvements to the
energy efficiency of vessels and the selectivity of fishing gear, enhancing safety and work-
ing conditions on board, improving the quality of fish products, retraining and life-long
learning for fishers, and facilitating the entry of young fishers into the sector),
aquaculture, inland fishing, processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products
(develop and modernise the aquaculture sector and adjust it to market prospects and ex-
pectations in a sustainable way, diversify towards new species, maintain a sustainable
level of activity in inland fisheries, improve the processing and marketing of fisheries and
aquaculture products in Poland),
measures of common interest (reinforce the port, fishing shelters and landing site facili-
ties and the construction of infrastructure, ensure a profitable and competitive fishing
sector in the long term which takes into account the restructuring needs of the Polish
fishing fleet as part of it shifts from cod to pelagic fishing activities, enhance the organisa-
tion of the sector, especially the market, but also to promote professional skills and inno-
vation in the fisheries sector, ensure the sustainable use of natural resources, disseminate
newly acquired knowledge concerning the fisheries sector, promote fisheries products),
sustainable development of fisheries areas (development of inland fisheries production,
support of the implementation of local development strategies using a bottom-up ap-
proach, create new job opportunities and improving the quality of life and attractiveness of
the fishery-dependent area, improvement of cooperation between public authorities, organi-
sations/bodies representing the fisheries sector, as well as between fisheries groups),
technical assistance (ensuring effective implementation of the Operational Programme,
as well as the Common Fisheries Policy, restructuring and reinforcement of the Managing
Authority of the Operational Programme and other control activities related to the en-
forcement of the Common Fisheries Policy).
Additionally, the National Plan of Restructuring the Baltic Fleet (Pol. Krajowy Plan restruk-
turyzacji Floty Bałtyckiej, April 2008) which will be implemented through a Fishing Effort Ad-
justment Plan (Pol. Plan dostosowania nakładu połowowego, Januar 2009). The Polish authori-
ties are also envisaging the implementation of Fleet Adaptation Schemes in line with the provi-
sions of Regulation (EC) n°744/2008 (fuel package).
With respect to seaports in the Operational Programme is implemented Fish Measure 3.3.
Fishing ports, landing sites and shelters. Investment under this measure includes:
processing and storage in ports and sale of fishery and aquaculture products,
improving the supply of fuel, ice, water and electricity,
improvement of working conditions and safety,
the construction, modernization and extension of jetty,
construction and technical infrastructure of ports and fishery shelters,
protection and development of aquatic fauna and flora.
Document Assumptions of the Republic of Poland maritime policy by 2020 (Pol. Założ-
enia polityki morskiej Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej do roku 2020, September 2009) was published in
September 2009 and provides a basis to develop a maritime policy by the Polish government,
which is an expression of realization the guidelines set in the European Commission Communi-
cation on Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union (COM (2007) 575) and the Euro-
pean Council conclusions adopted on 14 December 2007 during meeting in Lisbon. Assump-
tions... is also the basis for the development of an integrated regulatory system for cross-
approach to maritime affairs, which should result in synergies in the areas of social, economic
and environmental development of the marine affairs. The document specifies mission and
priority directions of the Poland’s maritime policy, its scope and determinants.
Document of great importance for maritime transport in Poland is National Spatial De-
velopment Concept (Pol. Koncepcja Zagospodarowania Przestrzennego Kraju, October 2005). In
accordance with EU transport policy, is assumed the promotion of maritime transport, espe-
cially short-range (including the so-called motorways of the sea), linked with other modes of
transport and intermodal transport chains. The strategic objective of the Polish transport policy
is to stop maritime transport decline and then improve the quality of services and competitive-
ness. One important task is to enhance the attractiveness of Polish ports which are starting
points of pan-European corridors of North-South transport passing through the Polish territory.
This will be reached by:
modernization and development of infrastructure of the four main seaports (Gdaosk,
Gdynia, Szczecin and Świnoujście) and increase access to them from the sea and land (road
and rail), as well as adaptation of ports’ infrastructure to new international regulations
(safety of navigation and environmental protection),
modernization and development of ferry terminals, which will enable development of
inland ferry and ro-ro in the eastern Baltic region.
Another country-scale document, important for maritime economy, is National Fisheries
Development Strategy for 2007-2013 (Pol. Narodowa Strategia Rozwoju Rybołówstwa na lata
2007-2013, June 2006). The main goal of Polish fishery policy is to keep a sustainable presence
of fish industry in the national economy through improvement in its effectiveness, competi-
tiveness and rational exploitation of living marine resources. Its main priorities refer to:
Measures for the adaptation of the Community fishing fleet (assistance for permanent or
temporary cessation of activity, modernization of fishing vessels, coastal fishing and socio-
economic measures, modernization of fishing vessels and support to coastal fisheries),
Aquaculture, inland fishery, fish processing and marketing and aquaculture (investments in
aquaculture, inland fisheries and the processing and marketing of fish products),
The activities of common interest (protection of fish fauna, the modernization and expan-
sion of fishery ports, the promotion of new markets and pilot projects),
Sustainable development of fisheries areas,
Technical support (various actions financed from national resources, public and private
sources and the EU under the European Fisheries Fund).
The main areas of assistance from the new European Fisheries Fund specified in Po-
land’s National Fisheries Development Strategy for 2007-2013 are:
adjustment of fish production in line with the state of resources and modernization of the
fleet (public aid for owners of fishing vessels and fishers affected by fishery permanent or
temporary effort adjustment plans, financing of equipment and the modernization of fish-
ing vessels, improvement of safety on board, working conditions, hygiene, product quality,
energy efficiency and selectivity),
investments in inland fisheries, aquaculture and fish-processing development (support for
traditional aquaculture activities important for preserving and developing both the eco-
nomic and social fabric and the environment, promoting diversification towards new spe-
cies and production species with good market prospects, investments for the construction,
extension, equipping and modernization of inland fishing facilities, producing or marketing
new products, applying new technologies or developing innovative production methods,
producing high quality products for niche markets),
measures of common interest (collective actions, protection and development of aquatic
fauna and flora, fishing ports, landing sites and shelters, development of new markets and
promotional campaigns, modification for reassignment of fishing vessels),
sustainable development of fisheries-dependant areas (in order to maintain the economic
and social prosperity of these areas, promote the quality of the coastal environment, pro-
mote national and transactional cooperation between fisheries areas).
Since 1 May 2004, when Poland joined the EU, its resource management policies have
been harmonized with the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and Poland has been represented by
the European Commission in international fisheries organizations (i.e. NEAFC, NAFO, CCAMLR),
through which management and quota allocations are decided.
Accession of Poland to the EU resulted in the full harmonization of Polish legal regula-
tions for fisheries with the EU legislation. The most important national regulation on fisheries is:
Law on Sea Fisheries from 19 February 2004 (Pol. Ustawa z dnia 19 lutego 2004 roku o ry-
bołówstwie) – basic national legal regulation,
Regulation of Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of 20 July 2004 on minimum
fish sizes and closed seasons (Pol. Rozporządzenie Ministra Rolnictwa I Rozwoju wsi z dnia
20 lipca 2004 roku w sprawie w sprawie wymiarów i okresów ochronnych organizmów mor-
skich oraz szczegółowych warunków wykonywania rybołówstwa morskiego) – the detailed
conditions for carrying out fisheries activities,
Law on Organization of Fishery market and financial support for Fishery trade from 22
January 2004 (Pol. Ustawa z dnia 22 stycznia 2004 roku o organizacji rynku rybnego i po-
mocy finansowej w gospodarce rybnej).
Polish maritime policy is also regulated by a number of other national and international
laws/guidelines/directives:
national-level documents:
- Law of 21 March 1991 on the maritime areas of the Republic of Poland
and Maritime Administration (Pol. Ustawa z dnia 21 marca 1991 r. o obszarach morskich
Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej i administracji morskiej),
- The law on ports and harbours of 20 December 1996 (Pol. Ustawa o portach i przystaniach
morskich z 20 grudnia 1996 r.),
- Act of 27 March 2003 on Spatial Planning and Development (Pol. Ustawa z dnia 27
marca 2003 r. o planowaniu i zagospodarowaniu przestrzennym),
- Act of 18 July 2001 Water Law (Pol. Ustawa z dnia 18 lipca 2001 r. Prawo Wodne),
- National Development Plan 2007-2013 (Pol. Narodowy Plan Rozwoju 2007-2013, June 2005),
- Operational Programme "Sustainable Development of Fisheries and Coastal Fishing Ar-
eas 2007-2013” (Pol. Program Operacyjny “Zrównoważony rozwój sektora rybołówstwa i
nadbrzeżnych obszarów rybackich 2007 – 2013”, July 2009),
- National Regional Development Strategy for the years 2007 – 2013 (Pol. Narodowa Stra-
tegia Rozwoju Regionalnego na lata 2007 – 2013, September 2005),
- Strategy for Rural Development and Agriculture for 2007-2013 (with elements of the
forecast to the year 2020) (Pol. Strategia rozwoju obszarów wiejskich i rolnictwa na lata
2007-2013 (z elementami prognozy do roku 2020), June 2005),
- Education Development Strategy for 2007-2015 (Pol. Strategia Rozwoju Edukacji na lata
2007 – 2013, August 2005),
- Assumptions of National Scientific, Technical and Innovative Policy by 2020 (Pol. Założenia
Polityki naukowej, naukowo-technicznej i innowacyjnej paostwa do 2020 roku, June 2005),
- Directions of the Information Society Development in Poland by 2020 (Pol. Kierunki Roz-
woju Społeczeostwa Informacyjnego w Polsce do roku 2020, June 2005),
- National Employment Strategy for 2007-2013 (Pol. Krajowa Strategia Zatrudnienia 2007
– 2013, September 2005),
- Tourism Development Strategy for 2007-2013 (Pol. Strategia Rozwoju Turystyki na lata
2007 – 2013, June 2005),
- Polish Energy Policy until 2025 (Pol. Polityka Energetyczna Polski do roku 2025, January
2005),
- Country’s Transport Policy for 2006 – 2025 (Pol. Polityka Transportowa Paostwa na lata
2006 – 2025, June 2005),
- Transport Development Strategy for 2007-2013 (Pol. Strategia Rozwoju Transportu na
lata 2007 – 2013, July 2005);
international-level documents:
- Convention on the International Maritime Organization (IMO Convention), 1948,
- Convention on the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES Convention),
1964,
- Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention), 1965,
- International Convention on Load Lines (LL Convention), 1966,
- Convention on the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO Convention), 1967,
- International Convention For Safe Containers (CSC Convention), 1972,
- Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREG
Convention), 1972,
- Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources in the Baltic Sea and the
Belts (Gdansk Convention), 1973,
- International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS Convention), 1974,
- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS Convention), 1982,
- Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Naviga-
tion (SUA Convention), 1988,
- Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Lo-
cated on the Continental Shelf (SUA PROT), 1988,
- European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, 2009,
- Vision and Strategies around the Baltic Sea 2010 (VASAB 2010 Plus), 2010.
The most important EU strategy for Baltic Sea region is the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea
Region, adopted in June 2009. The Strategy aims at coordinating action by Member States, re-
gions, the EU, pan-Baltic organisations, financing institutions and non-governmental bodies to
promote a more balanced development of the Region. The objectives of the strategy are:
Sustainable environment (reduction of pollution in the sea),
Prosperity (promotion of innovation in small and medium enterprises),
Region availability and attractiveness (energy and transport),
Safety and security (improvement of accident response).
The strategy proposes concrete actions in following areas: development of cooperation
in science and economy innovation in the, development of transport network (road, rail and
sea waterways) integrating the Baltic states, cooperation in keeping the economy on traditional
sectors such as fisheries and agriculture, protecting the marine environment of the Baltic Sea
and its catchment area. Strategy should guide policy in the region and in Poland in work on the
document the Polish government and the convention of Voivodeships Marshals are involved. At
the national level, this document is to provide a very important strategy outlining a framework
for cooperation, investment and financing from the EU budget and other institutions, as part of
the EU Maritime Policy.
Poland is one of the few countries in the world, which has a long-term strategy to pro-
tect the sea shore, whose implementation will provide the necessary basis for sustainable social
and economic development of coastal areas. This strategy underlies the Act of 28 March 2003
establishing a multiannual program "Coastal Protection Program" (Pol. Ustawa z dnia 28 marca
2003 r. o ustanowieniu programu wieloletniego "Program ochrony brzegów morskich"), which
provides funding from the state budget in the amount of about 25.5 mln PLN per year within 20
years, starting in 2004, and allows for funding of the program from other sources on average 20
million PLN every year.
An important document setting directions of development activities related to coastal
zone in Poland is an analysis of the Maritime Institute in Gdansk and Szczecin University – Man-
agement of the Baltic Sea Coastal Zone (Pol. Zagospodarowanie i przestrzenne aspekty rozwoju
strefy przybrzeżnej Bałatyku, 2007).
The document identifies six major development potential:
Shipping and ports,
Renewable energy (wind parks),
Tourism,
Fishery,
Minerals.
The European Union recommendation for implementing the Integrated Coastal Zone
Management (ICZM) in Europe obliges Poland to develop, approve and implement the National
Integrated Coastal Zone Management (Pol. Krajowa Strategia Zintegrowanego Zarządzania
Obszarami Przybrzeżnymi, 2002) strategy. The European Commission defines the ICZM as fol-
lows: ICZM is a dynamic, multidisciplinary and iterative process to promote sustainable man-
agement of coastal zones. It covers the full cycle of information collection, planning (in its
broadest sense), decision making, management and monitoring of implementation. ICZM uses
the informed participation and cooperation of all stakeholders to assess the societal goals in a
given coastal area, and to take actions towards meeting these objectives. ICZM seeks, over the
long-term, to balance environmental, economic, social, cultural and recreational objectives, all
within the limits set by natural dynamics. “Integrated” in ICZM refers to the integration of objec-
tives and also to the integration of the many instruments needed to meet these objectives. It
means integration of all relevant policy areas, sectors, and levels of administration. It means
integration of the terrestrial and marine components of the target territory, in both time and
space.
Currently, cross-sectoral work to develop this strategy is beeing conducted. According to
the Report on the Implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Poland (Pol.
Raport z wdrażania procesu zintegrowanego zarządzania obszarami przybżeżnymi w Polsce,
October 2007), should include the following elements:
• priorities, directions and basic principles of operation and management of coastal and ma-
rine areas,
• terms of infrastructure development of ports and harbors, their neighborhood and in
other regions of the sea shore,
• Directions of possible changes of the legal framework for management of marine, ports
and harbours regions, as well as other coastal land, taking into account participation of
port cities, regions, provinces and municipalities participation,
• principles and directions of the background of the safety and risk management in coastal
areas,
• principles and directions of environmental protection, as well as wildlife and cultural heri-
tage of coastal areas,
• formal and financial state involvement.
It is desirable that similar documents have also been developed on provinces and mu-
nicipalities (or groups of municipalities in the functional areas) levels.
5.1.2. Regional level
At the regional level functioning provincial development plans and strategies, adopted
and implemented by voivodeships’ governments. Voivodship development strategies will serve
as a bridging between regional policy as expressed in the National Regional Development Strat-
egy and the National Development Plan, and the socio-economic policy of the regions reflects
their aspirations.
The development strategy for the region is a reference point for all development activi-
ties in the province to support the development processes of the region and is the basis for the
preparation of regional operational program, sectoral strategies, long-term plans, setting out
the actions and other policy documents at the province level.
Pomeranian Voivodeship Development Strategy (Pol. Strategia Rozwoju Województwa
Pomorskiego, April 2005) is a provincial development plan, which also includes the task tar-
geted directly to the coast. Below is a description of the courses of action directly related to the
development of coastlandl and affecting maritime issues:
strategic objective – Economic development that uses specific regional resources (creation
of conditions for the development of maritime industries and sectors of co-operating and
logistics services, support the development of fisheries and fish farming and processing, re-
structuring of fisheries, cooperation and the formation of producer groups in fisheries and
fish processing and creating conditions for the concentration of wholesale trade in fish re-
sources by creating a public auction markets, construction and upgrading of tourism infra-
structure and spa facilities, improving the quality of tourist services, extending their part-
nership and cooperation in tourism and the development of an integrated system of pro-
motion and tourist information),
strategic objective – Effectiveness of the public sphere (creation of areas particulary suit-
able for investment and accelerated development, connected with the main transport cor-
ridors, creating conditions for increased efficiency of economic, social, cultural and political
relations with external institutions in Poland and abroad, especially in the Baltic Sea Region),
strategic objective – Empowering position and sub-regional links of the Tri-City Metropo-
litan Area, especially in relation to the Baltic area (creation of conditions for the develop-
ment of metropolitan functions, such as air and sea connections),
strategic objective – Shaping the social and spatial processes to improve quality of life (revi-
talisation of aeas of the socio-economic decline, degraded urban areas, post-military and
post-state farm areas, as well as areas culturally valuable and with degraded nature),
strategic objective – Efficient and safe transport system (improving transport accessibility
of the region by upgrading road and rail connections in the pan-European transport corri-
dors passing through the region, support development of coastal and inland waterways
and mOdranization of small ports development of air transport and making full use the po-
tential of the airport in Gdansk and other airports, promote a new European transport cor-
ridor in coastal zone, regional transport corridors and Tri-City ports, as a transport hub in
the network of Baltic Sea motorways),
strategic objective – Improving the functioning of the technical infrastructure and ICT (re-
duction of regional disparities in infrastructure development, particularly in the fields of
wastewater and gas distribution, rationalization of the use and protection of existing water
resources, to improve the quality of drinking water, creation of an integrated regional mu-
nicipal waste management systems based on the segregation, recycling and other forms of
waste recovery, minimize the impact of industrial landfills on human health and the envi-
ronment, mOdranization and expansion of flood control infrastructure, the development of
a regional system for small water retention, drainage system and the system for collecting
and treating rainwater and snowmelt, and the protection of sea coasts),
strategic objective – Maintaining and improving the natural environment (reducing envi-
ronmental pollution, strengthening the compactness and the spatial continuity of nature
protected areas system, protection of the marine environment, conservation of biodiver-
sity, including the implementation of projects related to the establishment of NATURA
2000 sites).
According to National Development Plan 2007-2013, the main investments in the Pom-
eranian Voivodeship are:
European Solidarity Centre,
modernization and expansion of rail transport infrastructure in the Tri-City Metropolitan
Area,
Pomeranian Centre of Technology and Innovation.
Strategy of Socio-Economic Development of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship by the
year 2020 (Pol. Strategia Rozwoju Społeczno – Gospodarczego Województwa Warmiosko-
Mazurskiego do roku 2020, August 2005) is the basic document defining directions of develop-
ment of the region. According to it the most important for socio-economic development is im-
proving the spatial coherence by enabling the transport system in the region and formed a
large ring-road-corridor around the Baltic Sea (Via Baltica). Other important issue is imporove-
ment of the Baltic navigation system, communication networks (including ICT) and tourism. All
of this is important to the growth of the port of Elblag, as a seaport.
Priorities of the Strategy... are:
Competitive economy (increase the competitiveness of companies, increase in the number
of places of employment, effective system for obtaining external investors, supporting the
system of production and promotion of the regional high-quality food products, growth of
tourism potential, increase the competitiveness of services for an aging population, growth
potential of the business environment, creating an information society, improving admini-
stration),
Open society (adapting the education system to labour market needs, diverse and accessi-
ble education, development of civil society, high level of security and availability of medical
services, ensure public security, ensuring an inclusive social security and the prevention of
social exclusion, increase availability of housing, increase the attractiveness of sports and
recreation, improving the quality of environmental protection),
Modern networks (increasing the availability of external communication and internal con-
sistency, adapting to the needs of the energy network, intensification of interregional co-
operation, cooperation with other Baltic regions).
As in the document there is strong emphasis on cooperation with the Baltic countries
and regions, as an important impetus to development the province, the region will participate
in the institutions and initiatives of international cooperation in the Baltic Sea, with special ho-
nors from the Euroregion Baltic. It will focus on economic relations with countries around the Bal-
tic Sea, with particular attention to the Kaliningrad region of Russia – the nearest neighbour re-
gion.
According to National Development Plan 2007-2013, the main investments in the War-
mian-Masurian Voivodeship are:
modernization of national road No. 16,
modernization of the regional airport in Szymany,
tourist development and maintenance efficiency of the Ostróda-Elbląg Channel.
Strategic document for the West Pomeranian Voivodeship’s development is the West
Pomerania Voivodeship Development Strategy to the year 2020 (Pol. Strategia rozwoju wo-
jewództwa zachodniopomorskiego do roku 2020, December 2005). This document presents a
vision of the Western Province, as a description of the development aspirations of the region by
2020. Thanks to its favourable location, the province will play an important role in the centre of
economic exchanges, cultural and scientific cooperation with good accessibility. Thanks to inte-
gration of the transport system of the region with the transport systems of the European Union
countries and the Baltic Sea and established a strong position in the country will have a team of
Szczecin-Swinoujscie port, fully discounting a very convenient location in the Baltic region. Im-
portance of central coast ports in region's economy will increase.
The main objectives of the mentioned document are as follows:
Increase innovation and management effectiveness (increase in innovation economy, de-
velopment and promotion of tourist products of the region, promoting cooperation and
development of small and medium business, supporting the growth of exports, maritime
development, restructuring and promoting market-oriented forms of agricultural produc-
tion and fishing in the activation of rural areas in the direction of multifunctional growth
and efficiency of farming),
Strengthening market mechanisms and economic environment (improving the security of
commercial trade, promoting the development of local products and services, increasing
the investment attractiveness of the region, supporting the development of institutional,
financial and business service, increasing the competitiveness of the region's spatial plan-
ning, strengthening the role of Szczecin and Koszalin, as well as activation of development
of other medium and large cities (with population of 20-100 thous.),
Supporting the development of functional and spatial structures (revitalization and devel-
opment of rural areas including small towns, create an efficient, accessible and integrated
transport system, supporting the development of housing and the housing market),
Preservation and protection of natural values and the rational management of natural re-
sources (preventing environmental degradation and removing its effects, preserve, protect
and restore the environmental values and resources, rational management of natural re-
sources of the region, use of renewable energy sources, revitalization of urban areas).
Building an open and competitive communities (development of social infrastructure in ru-
ral areas, developing innovative and environmentally friendly attitudes, building a learning
society, strengthening the role of environmental education system and European coopera-
tion in education, building the Information society, improvement of spatial and occupa-
tional structure of the labour market and mobility of population, improving the quality of
education and the availability and quality of educational programs, international, trans-
boundary regional co-operation),
Increase in identity and social cohesion in the region (strengthening local identity, support-
ing the development of local democracy and civil society strengthening ties and operating
conditions of the family, ensuring security and public order, encourage the participation of
people of retirement age, development of sport and recreation, promotion of healthy life-
styles, creation of a coherent system of health care tasks and health safety, support the
work of activating labour market, tackling social exclusion processes, creation of the tasks
of social policy).
According to National Development Plan 2007-2013, the main investments in the West
Pomeranian Voivodeship are:
construction of a permanent connection (tunnel) for islands of Usedom and Wolin in Swi-
noujscie,
construction of the western Highway Workarounds along the city of Szczecin with crossing
the Odra River in Police-Swieta,
construction of marine, river and inland marinas.
Regional strategies concerning seaports, which are one of the key elements, both in
economic, social and spatial planning terms, are:
for the Pomeranian Voivodeship:
- Pomeranian Voivodeship Development Strategy (Pol. Strategia Rozwoju Województwa
Pomorskiego, July 2005),
- Regional Strategy for Transport Development in the Pomeranian Voivodeship for the
years 2007-2020 (Pol. Regionalna Strategia Rozwoju Transportu w Województwei Po-
morskim na lata 2007-2020, September 2008);
for the West Pomeranian Voivodeship:
- West Pomeranian Voivodeship Development Strategy by the year 2020 (Pol. Strategia
Rozwoju Województwa Zachodniopomorskiego do roku 2020, December 2005),
- Development Strategy for Maritime in West Pomeranian Voivodeship by the year 2015
(Pol. Strategia Rozwoju Gospodarki Morskiej Województwa Zachodniopomorskiego do
roku 2015, August 2007),
- Draft Development Strategy for the Transport Sector in West Pomeranian Voivodeship by
the year 2020 (Pol. Strategia Rozwoju Sektora Transportu Województwa Zachodniopo-
morskiego do roku 2020, December 2008);
for the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship:
- Strategy for Socio-Economic Development of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship by the
year 2020 (Pol. Strategia Rozwoju Społeczno-Gospodarczego Województwa Warmiosko-
Mazurskiego do roku 2020, August 2005).
As regards the development of seaports the Pomeranian Voivodeship Development
Strategy is key document, indicating the need to improve the low level of development of logis-
tics, which is undoubtedly an element associated with port activities. The document presents
the objectives and the development of maritime transport, which at the regional level are de-
fined as follows:
promoting access to ports from the sea and land, preparation of new areas of develop-
ment, revitalization of port infrastructure investment to meet the needs of business,
support the modernization and expansion of cargo handling capacity – component (special-
ized port terminals), logistics (logistics and distribution centres) and the potential for ship
service (shipping services),
creating conditions for the development of industrial functions and activation functions of
the commercial port,
supporting the development of marine tourism and sailing,
harmonious cooperation between the port management port and local governments, inte-
grating the port, city and region for the interdependent functional and spatial develop-
ment, in terms of the transport system and to minimize negative environmental impacts,
port development as a multi-national centres operating under a combined transport chains,
creating the conditions for activation of coastal shipping routes connecting the Tri-ports
with the ports of the Hel Peninsula, which should increase their participation in transport
services for tourist resorts.
Another strategic document at the regional level, which raises the questions of devel-
opment of seaports is a draft Strategy for the Development of the Transport Sector of the West
Pomeranian Voivodeship till 2020 (Pol. Strategia rozwoju sektora transportu Województwa
Zachodniopomorskiego do roku 2020 – projekt, December 2008).
The overriding objective of the strategy for infrastructure development and maritime
transport system by 2020 is to achieve sustainable technical, spatial, economic and social sys-
tem of maritime transport, taking into account international and domestic competition be-
tween the branch and intra-industry. At the same time seaports shall be the overarching objec-
tive of "tailoring the service ports to market requirements", whit the basic objectives as follows:
strengthening the strategic role of ports as transport hubs, and universal logistics platforms
that integrate maritime transport with land transport,
improving the competitiveness of ports in the West Pomeranian market and the southern
Baltic Sea region in relation to other modes of transport,
development of ports’ business areas ,
increase the role of ports as major growth poles for regional and local environment.
Also in the Maritime Economy Development Strategy of the West Pomerania Voivode-
ship by the year 2015 (Pol. Strategia rozwoju gospodarki morskiej województwa zachodniopo-
morskiego do roku 2015, August 2007) one of the fundamental objective is seaports develop-
ment. The most important then is the development of maritime affairs, leading to substantial
improvement of the quality of use of available natural resources in the region and the value of
landscape and tourism, as well as infrastructure, including transport infrastructure, while main-
taining the principle of sustainable development.
Strategic objectives of the Maritime Economy Development Strategy of the West Pom-
erania Voivodeship by the year 2015 are:
The creation of the Central European Transport Corridor (modernization and reconstruction
of the expressway S-3, modernization of the Odra River as a waterway forming part of the
Corridor, reconstruction and modernization of the rail network forming a corridor – the
railway line E-59, inclusion of Central European Transport Corridor to the TEN-T);
Improving the competitiveness of ports through investments and changes in the organiza-
tional and legal structure (expansion and modernization of port infrastructure, regulate the
ownership relations in the ports, finalization of the privatization processes of companies
and port, as well as its development and spatial plans, improving transport accessibility of
seaports, creating the conditions for the financing of port infrastructure and facilities for
access to the ports, create a climate favourable to investment in sea ports);
Create a sustainable, accessible and integrated transport system in the West Pomeranian
Voivodeship (improving accessibility to inland transport infrastructure for ports of Szczecin,
Swinoujscie, Police and for small ports, expansion and modernization of transport facilities
in the port of Szczecin, Swinoujscie, Police and in small ports, regulation of the Odra river
to create an inland waterway, at least IIIrd class, implementing the concept of AGN (Euro-
pean Agreement on Main Inland Waterways of International Importance) – integration of
the Polish waterways with the Western European network (on the entire length of the
Odra), implementation of INBAT Project (Innovative Barge Trains for Effective Transport on
Inland Shallow Waters) forming a part of the 5th European Union Framework Programme);
More dynamic development of West Pomeranian small ports (introduction of an effective
system of management of small sea ports; modernization and expansion of infrastructure
of small ports, with particular emphasis on passenger service functions; improving the
availability of small ports to the economic foreground and background),
Strengthening the competitive position of the West Pomeranian shipyards
in the world shipbuilding and ship-repair sector (focusing on the production of specialized,
high-class vessels, increase spending on research and development; development of re-
search facilities and continuation of cooperation in advanced and innovative technologies;
creating the conditions for the development of SMEs through the transfer of innovative
technologies and joint development projects, prevention of outflow of skilled professionals
abroad; optimizing the shipyards’ economic policy; providing pre-financing sources for
shipbuilding; drafting of legal regulations that increase the availability of funding for ship-
building industry; organization and development of a repair potential of ships in Odra Estu-
ary ports; development of the supply facilities and services for shipbuilding and ship re-
pair),
Improving the system of maritime transport (development of short sea shipping with par-
ticular emphasis on sea motorways, promoting the use of intermodal and multimodal
transport; creating the conditions for vessels passing under the Polish flag).
All regional strategies are placed in existent conditionings, both at the regional level as
well as national and international level. They are therefore derived from the priorities, tasks
and rules of the European Union. They were also taken into account in any country's defence
requirements and obligations by virtue of membership in NATO.
Cross-regional Program of Development of the Vistula Delta and the Vistula Lagoon Wa-
terways – Loop Zulawska, the International Waterway E-70 (Pol. Program rozwoju dróg wod-
nych Delty Wisły i Zalewu Wiślanego – Pętla Żuławska, Międzynarodowa Droga Wodna E-70,
October 2006) covers a range of tourist use of these roads. The international waterway E-70 is a
project common to six provinces – Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lubuskie, Pomorskie, Warmiosko-
mazurskie, Wielkopolskie and Zachodniopomorskie.
The main goal of the program is to strengthen regional economic development through
tourism development of the Vistula Delta and Vistula Lagoon waterways. Projects included in
the Program... are:
construction, expansion and modernization of tourist infrastructure, including ports, mari-
nas, mooring platforms, development of facilities for ports and marinas, development of
inland navigation,
improving navigability and waterways safety, including marking of waterways, elimination
of obstacles to navigation, improve the quality of waterways and their immediate envi-
ronment, safety and rescue system,
improving accessibility to facilities and tourist attractions, like bicycle paths, hiking trails,
traffic routes and infrastructure for disabled people,
information system for water tourism, like program of marinas classification.
5.1.3. Local level
Key programs for local infrastructure development strategy of the Polish coast are:
Pomeranian Voivodeship:
- Strategy for the Development of Gdansk 2015 (Pol. Strategia rozwoju Gdaoska do roku
2015, December 2004),
- Development Strategy of Gdynia (Pol. Strategia Rozwoju Gdyni, January 1998);
West Pomeranian Voivodeship:
Development strategy of Szczecin 2015 (Pol. Strategia Rozwoju Szczecina 2015, May
2002),
City of Swinoujscie Development Strategy (Pol. Strategia Rozwoju Miasta Świnoujścia,
May 2004);
Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship:
Elblag Development Strategy 2001 – 2015 (Pol. Strategia Rozwoju Elbląga 2001 – 2015,
March 2001).
Strategy for the Development of Gdansk 2015 has regard to the issues of development
of seaports in both converted in its development priorities and operational programs. The pri-
ority of Economy points to the development of the strategic goal of maritime and logistics, as
well as specific objectives:
Growth of the ports’ potential of the port,
Supporting the development of logistic functions,
Development and modernization of communication system.
Strategic objectives are:
Inhabitants (development of knowledge-based society, improving the conditions of resi-
dence, promoting a healthy lifestyle, tackling social exclusion, protecting the natural envi-
ronment),
Economy (supporting the development of a modern economy, development of maritime
and logistics, development of tourism, sport and recreation, integration of the Gdansk
Metropolitan Area),
Culture (strengthening the role of Gdansk as a cultural centre).
Particularly noteworthy, in line with global trends, is a close link between the operation
of sea ports and logistics. At the same time the Strategy... sets out the 22 operational pro-
grams, including program Gdansk Open to the Sea (Pol. Gdaosk Otwarty na Morze). Featured
are inter alia objectives, benefits, planned projects and their results. In addition, underlined
have to be the role of the other programs, like Gdansk Wide Roads (Pol. Gdaosk Szerokiej Drogi)
– in improving road access to the port Gdansk area and in particular measures to accelerate the
construction of the A1 motorway.
The role of the maritime economy is also included in the Development Strategy of
Gdynia. The document outlines three priorities, one of which – The economy – is directly re-
lated to port activities. The purpose of this priority is creating the conditions for competitive-
ness and development of marine business (rational land development, improvement of access
to the city and port, new port investments) and the creation of conditions enabling the city to
act as an important communication hub (activation of transport corridors and the development
of passenger terminals).
In order to allow coordination of the Strategy... activities six specific policies were set
out:
Space Management – friendly for residents spatial planning and municipal property man-
agement in accordance with the principles of sustainable development,
Education – raising the level of training and educational activities to prepare Gdynia to ef-
fectively use their skills for personal and professional development,
Civil Society – to support individuals, families and local communities in order to meet basic
social needs – to secure the livelihoods, housing, health care,
The increase in quality of life – satisfying the needs of higher education in terms of access
to cultural and sports facilities, creating wide range of leisure activities for inhabitants and
tourists,
Transport and communication – the creation of efficient and environmentally friendly pub-
lic transport system and road system, which fully satisfies the needs associated with the
operation and development of the city,
Entrepreneurship and Innovation – promoting the economic development of the city, both
in its traditional Gdynia Maritime and in terms of new industries associated with modern
technologies.
Strategic document for the development of Szczecin – Development strategy of Szczecin
2015 – defines five strategic objectives, which include references to the role of the ports:
Achievement the standard of socio-economic urban functions, typical for supra-regional
centre (efficient road transport system in the national and international networks, in-
creased availability of port transport, the pan-European transport corridor of the valley of
the Odra, developed maritime transport and inland waterways),
Diversified, sustainable and efficient economy with high growth potential (diversification of
the economy of the city, modern maritime economy).
The strategy also identifies the leading priorities for the development of Szczecin in the
city area and outside the city. Among the priorities of the first dimension there is almost no
direct reference to the seaport, but still, there are many indirect references to the port (f.i. es-
tablishment of Pan-European Transport Corridor of Odra River Valley, including the A3 motor-
way and national road No. 3, the maintenance fairway Szczecin-Swinoujscie). Therefore the real
impact on the components indicated therein by the municipal authorities is very limited.
In the City of Swinoujscie Development Strategy very clearly is stated role of the city in
the functioning of the port. Evidence of this is the vision of the city, where it uses the term port
city. As one of the seven priorities identified there is support of the local maritime economy.
The Strategy... also identifies 14 programs, one of which – The Sea Makes Rich – relates directly
to the seaport. The program is mainly targeted on local businesses focus on soft projects, in-
cluding promotional activities, integration and lobbying for infrastructure tasks.
The program will consist of following projects:
support the restructuring program o the port,
support the ship repair/construction services sector of off-shore,
Our Port (the port of Swinoujscie promotion, joint marketing, creating an awareness of the
port brand, identification and development of the maritime cluster, program of optimal
use of existing infrastructure: the waterfront, harbour areas),
support the development of services linked with the port (processing throughput, mini-city
distribution and logistics mini-centre with LCL and LTL services),
modernization of the Bosmanski Dock,
support for measures aimed at handling vessels with a carrying capacity of 100 thous. DWT
in the port,
lobbying for improved access to the port from the land (S3 expressway),
lobbying overhaul of railway lines E-59 and CE-59,
measles lobbying program,
lobbying the reconstruction of the railway line to Berlin,
lobbying for entered the Valley of Odra transport corridor into the network of major Euro-
pean transport corridors (north-south directions).
Elblag Development Strategy 2001 – 2015 includes the development opportunities aris-
ing from cooperation with the metropolitan area of Gdansk and the location in the Vistula La-
goon region. The document envisages the following main objectives:
steady growth of the town in the economic development of the country and the Baltic re-
gion,
counteract the process of city peripheralisation,
sustainable process of economic development with social, environmental and spatial de-
velopment.
Strategic objective Improving the competitiveness of the city includes the development
of transport infrastructure of the supra-local importance, including the constant attention to
technical efficiency (deepening) of the fairway from Elblag, via Vistula Lagoon to the state bor-
der in the direction of Baltiysk, Kaliningrad and Gdaosk.
Social and economic development at the local level is also implemented on the basis of
associations of municipalities (local governments). On the Polish coast there are following mu-
nicipal associations:
Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Sea (Pol. Związwek Miast i Gmin Morskich,
ZMiGM) brings together 32 coastal municipalities; its aim is the common desire for eco-
nomic and cultural development of the Polish coastal region, as well as associated muni-
cipalities; other objectives are: to initiate and encourage to participate in projects aimed at
creating and improving the quality of tourist product, supporting communities and inter-
ventions in dealing with government, initiating and piloting of national and international
projects based on funds raised from external sources); ZMiGM directs its action through a
resolution of delegates of municipalities, there are also some problem committees;
Municipal Association of Vistula Lagoon Municipalities (Pol. Komunalny Związek Gmin
Nadzalewowych, KZGN) includes the municipalities surrounding the Vistula Lagoon,
namely: Braniewo, Elblag, Krynica Morska, Frombork, Nowy Dwor Gdanski, Tolkmicko,
Stegna, Sztutowo; the association was established in 1996 to carry out joint actions to pro-
tect the environment and solving the problems limiting the economic development of the
area;
Municipal Association of Municipalities "Valley of Reda and Chylonka rivers" (Pol. Ko-
munalny Związek Gmin “Dolina Redy i Chylonki”) is an association established in 1991 and
includes following cities and communities: Gdynia, Reda, Rumia, Wejherowo, Sopot, Kosa-
kowo, Szemud; the basic tasks of the association are: supply of cities and municipalities in
water, wastewater collection and treatment, heating, waste management, information and
environmental education;
Association of Municipalities of Wolin Island (Pol. Związek gmin Wyspy Wolin), which tasks,
among others, are: organizing projects for the planning and implementation of compre-
hensive measures for the nature and environment protection and management of drinking
water resources, promote economic development based on natural values, promotion of
tourism and recreation, acquisition of external funds for the implementation of municipal
investments, activation of municipal environments and local communities in a bid to get
the proper state of its natural environment.
An example of strategic document elaborated by municipalities association is the Devel-
opment Strategy of Vistula Lagoon Municipalities Area until 2015 (Pol. Strategia Rozwoju Ob-
szaru Gmin Nadzalewowych do 2015 roku, November 2000). The document is supposed to be
formal and factual basis for joint projects by local communities supported by the decisions of
local authorities of the two voivodeships Warmian-Mazurian and Pomeranian. This document
should provide a basis to support the activities of local governments and municipalities of the
Vistula Lagoon area. However, it does not replace the development strategies of individual mu-
nicipalities nor does it limit the activities of local authorities.
Adopted in the Strategy... projects aimed at sustainable development of the area and ensure:
preservation of unique qualities of the natural environment and improving it where it is
degraded,
creating conditions for economic development through investment in transport and tech-
nical infrastructure and technical,
better use of human potential.
As a strategy of both, local and regional importance, the Guidelines for Integrated
Coastal Zone Management of the Szczecin Lagoon (Pol. Wytyczne zintegrowanego zarządzania
strefą przybrzeżną Zalewu Szczecioskiego, 2000) can by recognize. Taking into account the iden-
tified functions and methods of use of natural resources, the document suggests the following
trends of development:
Maintenance and development of key industries, in accordance with the principle of sus-
tainability:
- maintaining and developing the port industry and shipbuilding,
- development of maritime and land transport,
- maintaining existing key industrial plants (f.e. Chemical Plants "Police"), including the
provision to minimize their impact on environmental and health of residents,
- development of fisheries management with the principles of ensuring sustainability of
fish stocks,
- development of agriculture in accordance with the principle of the use of best farming
practices and possibilities of restoring the ecological functions of unique habitat of spe-
cies of flora and fauna,
- development of forest management in accordance with the principle of sustainable de-
velopment,
- development of various forms of tourism and recreation, with exceptional natural, sce-
nic, historic and cultural circumstances, taking into account the minimization of harmful
environmental impacts and the popularization of the idea of preservation and conserva-
tion of biodiversity,
- water tourism, with the development of a network of small ports and marinas, cycling,
eco-tourism and agro-tourism,
- development of spa functions, including the use of natural medicinal resources
and the value of climate,
- promotion of the area due to its unique natural, economic, tourist, etc.;
Protection of unique natural and landscape values by maintaining existing forms of protec-
tion in the area of the lagoon and creating new ones:
- protection of rare species of flora and fauna,
- renaturalization of selected wetlands,
- implementation of the concept of biosphere reserve;
- protection of features in this area in the European system of ECONET network;
Integrated protection of water resources, which are of particular value to the lagoon area.
Relevant international agreements for the integrated coastal zone management of the
Szczecin Lagoon are:
Agreement between the Republic of Poland and the Federal Republic of Germany on coop-
eration in the field of water management on boundary waters of 19 May 1992 (Pol. Umowa
między Rzeczpospolitą Polską a Republiką Federalna Niemiec o współpracy w dziedzinie go-
spodarki wodnej na wodach granicznych z 19 maja 1992 r.);
Agreement on the International Commission for the Protection of the Odra River against
Pollution (Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, European Union), ratified in 1999 (Pol. Umowa
o Międzynarodowej Komisji Ochrony Odry przed Zanieczyszczeniem (Polska, Niemcy,
Czechy, Unia Europejska), ratyfikowana w 1999 r.).
Development strategy of the Vistula Lagoon region is described in the document In-
vestment Attractiveness of the Coastal Area of the Vistula Lagoon (Pol. Zwiększenie atrakcy-
jności inwestycyjnej obszaru przybrzeżnego nad zalewem wiślanym, 2004).
Due to this document an increasing of the investment attractiveness is based on:
Coastal location (open full access to the Baltic Sea by building a shipping channel through
the Vistula Spit, the restoration of international shipping in the Vistula Lagoon through the
Strait Pilava and inland shipping to the Curonian Lagoon, revitalization of international
inland waterway E70 Berlin-Kaliningrad-Klaipeda, development of water tourism routes, in-
termodal transport, lagoon port development);
Tourism (tourism and water sports, leisure tourism, sightseeing and spa, using the values of
cultural heritage, promote and coordinate the development of the transport network, cre-
ating network of tourism connections, promotion of tourist attractions);
NATURAl environment (rational and effective spatial policy, sustainable, balanced and uni-
versal access to natural resources, environmental safety, environmental education, moving
away from interdiction methods of conservation, promotion of natural assets);
Economic activity (facilitation of interregional and international transport links, improving
the communication system of the lagoon region).
5.2. For environmental interests
5.2.1. National level
The most important strategic document, defining the Polish environmental policy is Na-
tional Environmental Policy in 2009-2012 with a view to 2016 (Pol. Polityka ekologiczna pao-
stwa w latach 2009 – 2012 z perspektywą do roku 2016, December 2008). The policy define
objectives and priorities for environmental action indicates the direction necessary to ensure
adequate protection of the environment.
The key priorities indicated in the document, include:
finalize the establishment of the NATURA 2000 sites,
adoption of a draft law on genetically modified organisms in accordance with EU law,
closure of landfills do not meet EU requirements
implementation of the so-called green procurement,
strengthen environmental inspection staff,
promotion of technological platforms and eko-innovations in environment protection,
restoration of the fundamental role of local spatial managing plans as a basis for an in-
vestment location,
increased water retention,
developing a national strategy for soil protection,
promote the use of coal bed methane,
air pollution prevention,
water protection,
waste management,
modernization of the energy system.
The major challenges of national environmental policy are:
achieving the objectives of the EU CAFE Directive to limit emissions of particulate matter
and the need to reduce by 75% of nitrogen and phosphorus loads in the treated municipal
wastewater,
acoustic mapping for all cities over 100 000 inhabitants and develop plans to combat noise,
work on the document concerning the supervision of authorized chemicals on the market,
which is about the implementation of REACH.
Another strategic document important from the environment protection point of view is
the National Strategy for Environmental Education (Pol. Narodowa Strategia edukacji Ekologic-
znej, February 1998). The document identifies the main objectives of environmental education
and indicates the possibility of their implementation. One of the main provisions of the strategy
is the assumption that environmental education should cover the whole population, all ages,
professional, and policy makers at central and local levels.
The goals of the strategy are:
promotion of the idea of sustainable development in all spheres of life – permanent envi-
ronmental education of all residents of the Republic of Poland,
implementation of environmental education as an interdisciplinary education at all levels
of formal and informal education,
creation of a regional, county and municipal environmental education programs, which are
the development of the National Programme for Environmental Education, and embracing
the proposals made by the various entities that carry out educational projects for local
communities,
promotion of the best practice in the methodology of environmental education.
The main objective of the National Strategy for the conservation and sustainable use of
biological diversity with the Program of Action for 2007-2013 (Pol. Krajowa strategia ochrony i
zrównoważonego użytkowania różnorodności biologicznej wraz z Programem Działao na lata
2007-2013, October 2007), is to halt the decline of biodiversity and, in longer term, the mainte-
nance and enhancement of natural resources of Poland.
The main objective of the strategy is to preserve the richness of biodiversity at the local,
national and global scale and ensure sustainability and development opportunities at all levels
of it organization (intra-species, inter-species and above-species), including the needs of socio-
economic development of Poland and the need of ensuring the adequate living conditions and
development of society.
Achieving the main objective should be executed in eight equal in importance, strategic
objectives:
diagnosis and monitoring of biodiversity and existing and potential threats,
effective removal or reduction of emerging threats to biodiversity,
maintaining and/or enrichment of existing and restore lost components of biological diver-
sity,
full integration of actions to protect the biological diversity of activities affecting the eco-
nomic sectors, public administration and civil society (including NGOs), while ensuring an
appropriate balance between environment sustainability and socio-economic development
of the country,
raising awareness and shaping attitudes and social activities for the conservation and sus-
tainable use of biodiversity,
improve the mechanisms and instruments for the protection and sustainable use of biodi-
versity,
develop international cooperation in regional and global scale for the conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity resources,
use of biological diversity in a sustainable way, including fair and equitable sharing of bene-
fits and costs of its maintance, including the development costs of inaction for the protec-
tion of natural resources.
Poland’s policy of the wetlands management is defined by Strategy for protection of
wetlands in Poland, together with the Action Plan for 2006-2013 (Pol. Strategia ochrony ob-
szarów wodno-błotnych w Polsce wraz z planem działao na lata 2006-2013, October 2006).
The main objective of the strategy is a common protection of wetland environment.
Achieving this goal will be possible through:
ensuring the continuity of natural state of yet preserved wetlands and their ecological
functions,
halting the degradation and loss of wetland environments,
ecological restoration of degraded areas.
This should be done in relation to whole ecosystems, as well as individual components
of biodiversity – habitat of wetlands, plant communities and rare species of fauna and flora.
The achievement of the overarching goals of the Strategy requires the use of different
kinds of activities, including:
• implement the principles of sustainable farming, forestry and fishing – including the sea, as
well as the implementation of integrated land-use planning of valuable nature areas, taking
into account the needs of nature conservation,
• legal protection of valuable objects, to create a coherent system of protected areas, in
which all types of wetland habitats will be included in a representative way,
• restoration of transformed areas,
• create a system of financing the protection of hydrogenic ecosystems,
• active protection of the Baltic Sea coast through the construction, installation and proper
operation of treatment facilities in the rivers basins and on ships,
• implementation of the rational principles of urban planning, according to areas
adjacent to wetland habitats, particularly the principles of rational management of water
and wastewater management,
• strengthening international cooperation, especially with neighbouring countries, in the
conservation and sustainable use of water resources.
Other important for nature conservation and environmental protection policy document
is the State Forest Policy (Pol. Polityka Leśna Paostwa, April 1997), which is assumed to ensure
the sustainability of forests, with their versatility, through the enhancement of forest resources
of the country and its comprehensive protection and the reorientation of forest management
from the previous dominance of resource model to a model of green and sustainable economi-
cally, multifunctional forest management.
In Polish sea waters, there are four species included in the European Red List of Threat-
ened Animals and Plants: harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), ringed seal (Pusa hispida),
sturgeon (Acipenser sp.; exterminated) and sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). Species protec-
tion in Poland covers all the Baltic mammals, almost all species of birds living permanently or
temporarily in the Polish sea zone and the following fish: sturgeon (Acipenser sp.), allis shad
(Alosa alosa), twaite shad (Alosa fallax), sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus), fourhorn sculpin
(Myoxocephalus quadricornis), sea snail (Liparis liparis), sea stickleback (Spinachia spinachia). In
addition, eight plant species are protected by Polish law: Furcellaria fastigiata, eelgrass (Zostera
marina), Tolypella nidifica, Chara baltica, fotinalis moss (Fontinalis hypnoides), present in the
Bay of Puck and bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus)/strictly protected, Ceramium tenuicorne and
Ceramium diaphanum/partially protected.
The most important international conventions/directives/strategies regarding to nature
conservation and sea environment protection and ratified/adopted/implemented by Poland,
are:
Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (Helsinki
Convention), 1992,
Convention on Biological Diversity (Biodiversity Convention), 1992,
Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and NATURAl Habitats (Bern Conven-
tion), 1979,
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat
(Ramsar Convention), 1971,
Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and NATURAl Heritage
(UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Paris Convention), 1972,
International Convention Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution
Casualities (INTERVENTION Convention), 1969,
International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC Convention), 1969,
International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation
for Oil Pollution Damage (FUND Convention), 1971,
Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter
(London Convention), 1972,
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ship (MARPOL Convention),
1973,
International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC
Convention), 1990,
International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and
Sediments (BWM Convention), 2004,
Conserving Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas (ASCOBAN Convention), 1992,
UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB Programme), 1971,
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and
Their Disposal (Basel Convention), 1989,
Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (Geneve Convention), 1979,
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 1992,
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS, Bonn Conven-
tion), 1979,
Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Con-
vention), 1991,
Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International
Lakes (Water Convention), 1992,
Council Directive 79/409/EEC on Wild Birds (Birds Directive), 1979,
Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and
flora (Habitats Directive), 1992,
European Landscape Convention (Florence Convention), 2000,
Directive 2006/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the quality of fresh
waters needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life, 2006,
Council Regulation (EC) No 708/2007 concerning use of alien and locally absent species in
aquaculture, 2007,
Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council 2000/60/EC Establishing a Frame-
work for Community Action in the Field of Water Policy (WFD, EU Water Framework Direc-
tive), 2000,
Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy, 1998,
Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on a
European Community Biodiversity Strategy (COM (1998)42), 1998,
The European Union’s Biodiversity Action Plan – Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 –
and beyond, 2008,
The Sixth Environment Action Programme of the European Community 2002 – 2012, 2007,
Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Kyoto
Protocol), 1997,
Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the Protection of Waters against Pollution caused
by Nitrates from Agricultural Sources (Nitrates Directive), 1991,
Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework
for the Community action in the field of water policy (EU Water Framework Directive), 2000,
Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 estab-
lishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Ma-
rine Strategy Framework Directive), 2008,
Council Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban waste-water treatment (Urban Waste-
water Directive), 1991,
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (Cartagena Protocol), 2000.
Poland, as a party to the Helsinki Convention, is obliged to implement the objectives of
the Baltic Sea Action Plan. The plan was adopted at the HELCOM Ministerial Meeting of 15 No-
vember 2007 in Krakow. The main idea of the Baltic Sea Action Plan is to create a new regional
strategy aimed at reducing pollution and reverse the degradation of the Baltic marine environ-
ment. HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan is an ambitious strategy to renew good ecological status
of the Baltic Sea environment. This new strategy will be an important step forward for compre-
hensive and more effective actions to address the continued deterioration of the marine envi-
ronment by human activity.
The plan is based on a set of clear environmental objectives, common vision of a healthy
sea, with balanced ecosystems that are able to support a wide range of sustainable economic
activities. According to it, key issues to protect the Baltic marine environment are:
prevention of eutrophication,
limiting the supply of dangerous substances,
ensuring the environmentally friendly marine transportation,
protection of biodiversity.
For these four environmental priorities four goals were defined:
Baltic Sea safe from excessive inflow of nutrients,
concentration of hazardous substances to a minor extent,
shipping and offshore activities undertaken in an environmentally friendly manner,
encourage the maintenance of biodiversity.
In order to determine the extent and timing of implementation of the Baltic Sea Action
Plan in Poland, Initial National Program for the Implementation of the Baltic Sea Action Plan
(Pol. Wstępny krajowy program wdrażania Bałtyckiego Planu Działao, July 2010) was developed.
The program identified four priorities and a number of related specific actions:
segment I – Eutrophication:
- identify areas vulnerable to pollution by nitrates from agricultural sources and imple-
ment action plans in these areas,
- designation of hot spots connected with intensive cattle, poultry and pigs breeding,
which do not meet the requirements of the revised Annex III to the Helsinki Convention
and implementation of corrective actions,
- preventing and reducing pollution from land-based sources originating from agricultural
activities (in accordance with Part II of Annex III to the Helsinki Convention), including
the implementation of good agricultural practices,
- reduction of discharges from sewage treatment plants – to meet specific requirements
for discharges from agglomerations or fill in an alternative provision on the percentage
reduction in the discharge of nutrients contained in the effluent (HELCOM Recommen-
dation 28E/5),
- reduction of discharges from sewage treatment plants – implementation and promotion
practices in relation to household sewage systems, which collect domestic waste water
or similar to the single-family homes, small businesses or settlements not covered by
the sanitary sewerage networks in cities such as involving the implementation of the
maximum daily loads of BOD, P and N in the treated waste water per capita (HELCOM
Recommendation 28E/6),
- reduction of discharges through the use of detergents without phosphates – action to
replace polyphosphates (phosphorus) in washing powders and to consider in 2010 pos-
sibilities for substitution of polyphosphates in plant dishwasher (HELCOM Recommenda-
tion 28E/7),
- monitoring, running calculations and reporting of complete data sets on the point and
area sources (HELCOM Recommendation 28E/14),
- taking into account the relevant activities in the country's hydro-environment pro-
gramme, updates the management plans for river basin and in the conditions of water
use and water catchment areas of rivers that are produced in accordance with the Wa-
ter Law, transposing the requirements of the Water Framework Directive,
- measures to reduce nutrient loading from atmospheric deposition by reducing emis-
sions of nitrogen compounds from various sectors, including maritime transport,
- action on the objectives of the UNECE Convention on transboundary air pollution and
Göteborg Protocol, 1999;
segment II – Hazardous substances:
- reducing and preventing the emission of dioxins and other hazardous substances from
small-scale combustion processes (HELCOM Recommendation 28E/8),
- implementation of HELCOM requirements on proper handling of waste / landfill (HEL-
COM Recommendation 24/5),
- introduction and use of Whole Effluent Approach (WEA),
- establishment and development of appropriate records of chemical products, by 2010,
- implementation of the Globally Harmonized System (GSH), concerning the classification
and labelling of chemicals,
- supporting the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management, and partici-
pation in the regional implementation,
- action to reduce or replacements of certain substances (MCCP, OP/OPE, PFOA, de-
caBDE) and to consider action in relation to HBCD,
- introduction to the 2010 ban on use, production and marketing in the whole Baltic Sea
catchment area of the endosulfan, pentaDBE, octaDBE,
- limits on the use of certain substances (PFOS, NP/NPE, SCCP),
- evaluation of the possibilities and restrictions of the cadmium content in mineral fertilizers,
- introduction of strict restrictions on the use of mercury in products and processes,
- ratification of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and implemen-
tation of the provisions of the convention;
segment III – Biodiversity and nature conservation:
- development and implementation in the Baltic Sea coherent and well-managed network
of Baltic Sea Protected Areas (BSPA), NATURA 2000 and Emerald Areas, by 2010,
- development and implementation of common rules for large-scale planning for the pro-
tection of the marine environment, according to sustainable use of coastal zones and
open sea (HELCOM Recommendation 28E/9)
- securing the natural landscapes of the sea and the restoration of degraded areas,
- inhibition of degradation of the endangered and/or declining marine biotopes/habitats
in the Baltic Sea and its regeneration,
- prevention of introductions, elimination and control of alien species populations,
- renaturisation of the Baltic Sea subregions,
- improvement in the Baltic Sea (by 2015) the conservation status of species that are in-
cluded in the HELCOM List of threatened and/or endangered species and habitats,
- establishment, till 2012, fishing closure areas,
- development and implementation of appropriate farming practices and restocking for
salmon and sea trout in order to ensure genetic diversity of these species,
- elimination of illegal, unregulated and no reported catches,
- implementation of national security programs of eel stocks in particular, a list of actions for
successful migration of eels from the Baltic Sea catchment area to the spawning grounds,
- restitution of salmon in at least four potentially suitable rivers,
- implement the security plan for Baltic cod in order to comply viability of cod populations
in their natural distribution areas,
- development of sturgeon reintroduction program,
- avoiding by-catch of porpoises, seals, water birds and non-commercial fish,
- reducing fishery waste to <1% level, till 2015;
segment IV – Maritime activities:
- ratification of certain conventions and protocols (AFS, Marpol 73/78),
- use of safe anti-fouling systems,]
- introduction of the principle of no-special-fee for waste from ships (HELCOM Recom-
mendation 28E/10),
- designate the Baltic Sea as a special area of long-term goal to eliminate discharges of
sewage from ships, especially passenger ships and ferries,
- monitoring and inspections associated with the Paris Protocol of 1982 (MoU), coopera-
tion in investigating and prosecuting the perpetrators of illegal spills,
- inclusion of oily wildlife rescue plans for protection against oil pollution accidents in the
national or local level,
- improving the safety of navigation in the Baltic Sea in conditions of freezing,
- strengthening interregional cooperation in the field to respond to oil spills, developing
risk assessments of oil spills and chemical pollution,
- conclusion of agreements and to develop plans for responding to spills,
- develop and implement a joint plan on places of refuge for ships in distress,
- development of a satisfactory system of liability and compensation,
- investigate the possibility of designating ballast water exchange zones outside the Baltic
Sea together with the OSPAR,
- consider the introduction of effective economic incentives for reducing emissions from
ships,
- support the work of IMO, to implement more stringent requirements for emissions from
ships,
- principle of "zero-discharge" for the platforms installed in the offshore zone of the Baltic
Sea starting from 1 January 2010,
- carrying out the procedure for environmental impact assessment in relation to new plat-
forms, monitoring of existing operators and a commitment to the annual reporting of
the environmental impact of their activities,
- monitoring of the Baltic and inland waters under the National Environmental Monitor-
ing,
- realization of the HELCOM PLC-6 project – The sixth summary of the quantities of pollut-
ants discharged from the river basins.
In 2005, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) gave the Baltic Sea status of the
Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA), which receive very sensitive areas of special ecological,
social, cultural or scientific importance, that can be destroyed by the intensity of shipping traffic
(International Maritime Organization General Assembly Resolution on establishing the Baltic
Sea as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area). PSSA status is not associated with any binding legal
obligations for Poland, but in the future, it should agree with the International Maritime Or-
ganization location of particularly valuable natural areas. Tankers will have to steer clear of
those areas and move only on specific routes. It is associated with changes in the management
of marine space, consisting of a mandatory establishment of safe deep-water shipping routes in
the Baltic Sea and the establishment of inshore traffic zones, to maximize the safety of vessels
(to avoid contamination of the environment as a result of disaster or accident), as well as pro-
tecting wildlife and environment.
The most important act of national law that regulates issues relating to nature conserva-
tion is the Act of 16 April 2004 on the Nature Conservation (Pol. Ustawa z dnia 16 kwietnia 2004
r. o ochronie przyrody).
5.2.2. Regional level
The basic document defining the environmental policy of the region is the voivodeship
program, plan or strategy for environmental protection and nature conservation.
The comprehensive approach of the natural environment of the region allows using the
program for the following purposes:
joint action by the administration at all levels, i.e. provincial, district and municipality, in
order to solve important problems and eliminate environmental hazards in the region,
decision-making on projects in the field of environmental protection and financing of envi-
ronmental investments,
creating a regional policy of conservation and rational use of natural features of landscape,
use by county and municipal governments as the methodological and substantive basis in
the development of local environmental protection programs,
coordinate and intensify efforts to protect the environment carried out by the administra-
tion at all levels, as well as enterprises, institutions and NGOs.
The activities of the Program of environment protection of the Warmian-Masurian
Voivodeship in 2007-2010, taking into account the perspectives for 2011-2014 (Pol. Program
ochrony środowiska województwa Warmiosko-Mazurskiego na lata 2007-2010 z uwzględnie-
niem perspektywy na lata 2011-2014, November 2007) focuses on the following issues:
Good condition and quality of water:
- development and balancing of the basins’ programs,
- waste water management, construction and upgrading of sewage treatment plants and
sewage systems, taking into account sensitive areas, especially lakes and catchment ar-
eas of groundwater without isolation,
- construction and upgrading of water networks and water treatment plants,
- reduce an agricultural pollution from non-point sources;
Improve the quality and the protection of the earth's surface:
- establishment of regional waste management systems,
- proper use of agricultural soil (fertilization, inhibition of erosion), to encourage the de-
velopment of organic farming,
- rational use of mineral resources and reclamation of the excavation void,
- afforestation,
- improving the quality and air protection,
- reducing industrial emissions,
- reduction of nuisance air emissions from diffuse sources,
- preference for environmentally friendly heating,
- use of renewable energy sources, including geothermal energy,
- preference for environmentally friendly transport,
- preference for technologies that reduce noise, and the construction of ring roads
around the urban areas, as well as construction of the sound screens;
Conservation of landscape features:
- raising the protective profile of Napiwodzko-Ramucka Forest and Borecka Forest,
- restoration of species of fauna and flora,
- renaturalization of marshes, meadows and bogs,
- afforestation and forest stands,
- providing conditions for the migration of animals.
Perspective objectives of the Environment protection program of the Pomeranian
Voivodeship for the years 2007-2010 with a perspective for 2011-2014 (Pol. Program ochrony
środowiska województwa Pomorskiego na lata 2007-2010 z uwzględnieniem perspektywy 2011-
2014, September 2007) are:
Environment for health – further improvement of environment quality and ecological
safety;
Strengthening the environmental management system and raising of public awareness;
Protecting the natural resources and its rational use;
Sustainable use of materials, water and energy.
Within the framework of the prospective objectives also a number of medium-term ob-
jectives, planned for completion by 2014, are indicated:
identification of environmental hazards, inhibiting their growth and to minimize its nega-
tive effects,
achieving and maintaining good status of groundwater and surface water, including coastal
waters,
achieving and maintaining air quality standards,
construction of the waste management system that fully implements the principle of pre-
vention and minimization of waste production, ensures a high degree of recovery and envi-
ronmentally safe disposal,
environmental education,
activation of the market to work for the environment, enhancing the role of eko-
ionnovations in the development process of the region,
protection of biodiversity and landscape, halting its loss and improvement of system of
protected areas consistency, with particular reference to NATURA 2000,
increasing the resources and area of the region's forests and increase their biodiversity,
maintaining high environmental values of agricultural land,
sustainable use of mineral resources, minimize the negative impact of their operations, and
elimination of illegal mining,
promote and support the use of renewable energy.
In the Program of environment protection of Western Pomeranian Voivodeship for the
years 2008 - 2011 taking into account the perspective of 2012 – 2015 (Pol. Program Ochrony
Środowiska Województwa Zachodniopomorskiego na lata 2008 – 2011 z uwzględnieniem per-
spektywy 2012 – 2015, March 2008) three strategic goals are indicated:
Continue to improve environmental quality and environmental safety to protect the health
of citizens;
Protecting the natural resources and its rational use;
Strengthening the environmental management system.
The priorities of the programme are:
reducing the pollution load discharged into water by modernizing and building new waste-
water treatment plants,
completion of the construction of sewerage and sewage treatment plants with improved
removal,
reducing transport needs and reducing emissions from transport as part of improving air
quality in urban areas,
implementing programs to reduce air emissions from industrial and municipal,
reducing emissions from large combustion sources,
supporting efforts to eliminate waste and ensure environmentally safe disposal proce-
dures,
raising the level of recovery of municipal waste to 10% in 2010,
minimizing the threat to human health and environmental quality resulting from the use of
chemicals,
withdrawal from the market and ban on use the ozone-depleting substances,
prevention of risks of major industrial accidents by strengthening the control of plant pre-
senting such risk,
supporting activities aimed at reducing noise,
protection of the population and the environment against electromagnetic fields,
conduct effective oversight of the use of ionizing radiation sources.
In addition, environmental assessment done for the previous environmental program
allowed the listing of areas of priority tasks outlined below:
preventing further eutrophication,
reducing air pollution particulate matter,
reducing inhabitants exposure to communication,
improvement of waste management.
5.2.3. Local level
Local environmental protection programs are adjusted and transposed national policy
and regional programs guidelines for environmental protection for the specific terms of coun-
ties and municipalities.
Currently only 2 communes (Kamien Pomorski and Braniewo) the Polish coastal strip
does not possess an approved programme of environmental protection. All sea-bordered coun-
ties have such programme.
Tab. 2. The number of commune and county environmental programs in coastal zone
Type of local
authority
Voivodeship
West Pomeranian Pomeranian Warmian-Masurian
sea-
bordered
counties
tota
l
pro
-
gram
me
no
pro
-
gram
me
tota
l
pro
-
gram
me
no
pro
-
gram
me
tota
l
pro
-
gram
me
no
pro
-
gram
me
8 8 0 8 8 0 2 2 0
sea-
bordered
communes
tota
l
pro
-
gram
me
no
pro
-
gram
me
tota
l
pro
-
gram
me
no
pro
-
gram
me
tota
l
pro
-
gram
me
no
pro
-
gram
me
19 18 1 15 15 0 4 3 1
5.3. For the interest of history and culture
5.3.1. National level
National Culture Programme “Historic Preservation and Cultural Heritage" for 2004-
2013 (Pol. Narodowy Program Kultury „Ochrona Zabytków i Dziedzictwa Kulturowego” na lata
2004–2013, September 2004) is part of the National Strategy for Cultural Development 2004-
2013 (Pol. Narodowa Strategia Rozwoju Kultury na lata 2004–2013, September 2004). The pro-
gramme sets the priorities and sub-programs, which focus on the management of cultural or-
ganizations and funding opportunities for projects related to the elements of national culture.
The strategy does not take specific issues related to the protection of monuments, sites, ob-
jects and culturally valuable areas of the Polish coast. Also Supplement of the National Strategy
for Cultural Development for the years 2004-2020 (Pol. Uzupełnienie Narodowej Strategii Roz-
woju Kultury na lata 2004–2020, June 2005) do not apply to such specific issues.
5.3.2. Regional level
Protection of cultural heritage at the regional level is based on the regional strategies
and plans for the protection of monuments.
Strategic document in Pomorskie is the Programme of Historic Preservation in the Pom-
eranian Voivodeship for 2007-2010 (Pol. Program Opieki nad zabytkami województwa pomor-
skiego na lata 2007-2010, February 2007), whose strategic goal is to preserve the cultural heri-
tage of Pomerania, which is used to build regional identity and to promote the tourism. The
document sets out the priorities that have lead to this goal – the most important from the point
of view of the coast is the Protection of cultural heritage connected with sea and rivers. This
priority includes the following activities:
preservation of marine and river cultural heritage and tourism promotion,
protection of the cultural landscape of the coastal zone,
preservation of the material culture of sea and river ports, as well as fishing villages,
restoration and recovery of degraded areas of port facilities and redevelopment of the
maritime industry,
preservation and protection of historic hydraulic structures,
maintaining the cultural landscape of the Vistula depression (Żuławy, Powiśle),
nurture and promote the rich maritime tradition of the country and the region and local
traditions related to the daily life of inhabitants of the coastal zone,
displaying the most valuable heritage of sea and river.
Types of support activities:
activities involving in particular the maintenance, renovation, restoration and improvement
of:
- hydro-technical equipment (f.i. locks, culverts, pumping stations, windmills, hydro-
power plants),
- specific facilities such as drawbridges, rotary, lighthouses, coastal fortifications,
- seaports, commercial and fishing vessels with accompanying buildings and ramps,
- industrial buildings associated with the maritime economy (including shipbuilding),
- fishing villages and heritage-related material from the Vistula area settlement,
- elements of the resorts/spas architectural heritage;
revitalization of the historic port area and the redevelopment of the maritime industry and
maritime economy;
sea and rivers heritage revalorisation and adaptation for cultural, educational and tourism
reasons;
maintenance and restoration of monuments of still and motion of sea and river heritage
(including archaeological) involving the reconstruction of their original historic appearance;
illumination of the most valuable heritage of sea and river.
West Pomerania Regional Program for the Protection of Monuments for the years 2008-
2012 (Pol. Wojewódzki Program Opieki nad Zabytkami na lata 2008-2012 dla Województwa
Zachodniopomorskiego, June 2008) does not specify any goals or measures directly related to
the maritime nature of the region, but sets out the general objectives relating to all monuments
and culturally valuable sites of the West Pomerania:
Maintain building monuments and cultural landscape of the region,
Operation of monuments in the process of socio-economic activisation of the region,
Raising awareness on the basis of regional cultural heritage and the need to keep it for fu-
ture generations.
Programme of monuments protection of Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship – Provincial
Programme for the Protection of Monuments for the years 2008 – 2011 (Pol. Wojewódzki Pro-
gram Opieki nad Zabytkami na lata 2008 – 2011, October 2007) is a document complementary
to other planning instruments, serving actions affecting in the field of protection of monuments
and cultural landscape. The leading idea of developing the programme is to recognize the need
for regional conservation of cultural heritage, as an important factor in the shaping of regional
identity and tourism promotion.
The result of the program should be to achieve an appreciable improvement, and so-
cially acceptable in terms of: the state of preservation and maintenance of historic buildings at
the site of the voivodship, broadly defined a resource of cultural heritage and to preserve the
cultural landscape. It is essential that the programme is implemented in cooperation with the
region's population, in various forms of its life activity (work, social activities, actions arising
from ownership or use of historic buildings) involved in the care of monuments.
5.3.3. Local level
Monuments in the immediate vicinity of the sea are not always included in local
plans/programmes of protection of monuments. In many cases sea-bordered counties or com-
munes do not have such documents.
Below are some examples of situation of coastal historic monuments, according to rele-
vant local plans/programmes:
ruins of the Church in Trzesacz – no municipal programme of protection of monuments in
the Reval,
Marine Station in Gdynia – programme under development (most probably till the end of
2010),
Lighthouse in Rozewie – no protection programme for City Administrator Wladyslawowo,
Ostrodzko-Elblag Canal – no protection programme in Ostroda,
Lighthouse in Jaroslawiec – no monuments’ protection programme for the Postomino mu-
nicipality,
lighthouse in Gaski – lack of a municipal monument preservation program for Mielno
commune,
Ustka Lighthouse – under urban plan for protection of monuments.
In the cities, for the protection of monuments is responsible Municipal Monuments’
Conservator, that deals with the objects included in the register of monuments and/or objects
and historical sites not listed in the register of monuments (depending on the division of re-
sponsibilities agreed with the Provincial Conservator of Monuments), but protected, for exam-
ple, in the municipal spatial development plans.
6. Environmental Impact Assessment
6.1. EIA legally enforcement
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA, Pol. Ocena Oddziaływania na Środowisko) is one
of the basic tools of environmental management in development processes, which reflect the
principle of sustainable development. Procedure for Environmental Impact Assessment is to
provide information, to administrative body adopting decisions, whether and how the pro-
posed investment interferes with the environment, whether it was planned in an optimal man-
ner and whether the benefits of its implementation compensate for losses in the environment,
which are usually unavoidable. The environment here is understood not only as a natural envi-
ronment, but also as a social environment.
The basic legal act regulating the EIA in Polish law is the Law of 3 October 2008 on the
sharing of information on environment and its protection, public participation in environmental
protection and the environmental impact assessment (Pol. Ustawa z 3 października 2008 r. o
udostępnianiu informacji o środowisku i jego ochronie, udziale społeczeostwa w ochronie śro-
dowiska oraz o ocenach oddziaływania na środowisko), which implements the obligations un-
der: Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2001 on the
assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, Council Direc-
tive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private
projects on the environment, Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation
of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on
the conservation of wild birds.
In Polish law the assessment is determined also by the Act of 27 April 2001 Environment
Protection Law (Pol. Ustawa z dnia 27 kwietnia 2001 r. Prawo ochrony środowiska), which in-
troduces the administrative procedure: the procedure for environmental impact assessment
(EIA procedure). Special procedure is also carried out in case of the NATURA 2000 areas.
Procedure for Environmental Impact Assessment is carried out for projects mentioned in
the Decree of Council of Ministers of 9 November 2004 on the types of projects may significantly
affect the environment and specific conditions for qualifying projects to draw up a report on
environmental impact (Pol. Rozporządzenie Rady Ministrów z 9 listopada 2004 r. w sprawie ok-
reślenia rodzajów przedsięwzięd mogących znacząco oddziaływad na środowisko oraz
szczegółowych uwarunkowao związanych z kwalifikowaniem przedsięwzięcia do sporządzenia
raportu o oddziaływaniu na środowisko), as well as in Council Directive (85/337/EEC) on the
assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment:
planned projects likely always have a significant impact on the environment (mandatory
EIA),
planned projects likely to potentially significant environmental effects if the obligation to
carry out environmental impact assessment has been determined by order of authority
(screening).
According to the abovementioned legal acts, investments important from the coastal
and marine point of view are:
integrated chemical installations for the production of phosphorous-, nitrogen- or potas-
sium-based fertilizers,
construction of lines for long-distance railway traffic, motorways and express roads,
inland waterways and inland ports,
trading ports, fishing ports, marinas and port facilities,
extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas for commercial purposes,
dams and other installations designed to hold and permanent storage of water,
pipelines for the transport of gas, oil and chemicals,
installations for the intensive rearing of poultry (with more than 85 000 places for broilers
and/or 60 000 places for hens) or pigs (3 000 places for production pigs over 30 kg or/and
900 places for sows),
equipment for storage of petroleum, petrochemicals and chemicals,
water management projects for agriculture, including irrigation and drainage,
intensive fish farming,
extraction of minerals by marine or fluvial dredging,
installations for hydroelectric energy production,
devices that use wind power for electricity production (wind farms),
shipyards,
shore protection constructions, excluding the maintenance and reconstruction works,
wastewater treatment plants,
holiday resorts and hotel complexes outside urban areas and associated developments,
permanent camp sites and caravan sites,
amusement parks.
In the administrative proceeding that ends in a decision on the environmental condi-
tions of planned investment shall be determined:
direct and indirect impacts of proposed projects on natural environment, social environment
(including health and living conditions), tangible, cultural monuments, interrelationship be-
tween the mentioned elements and availability of mineral deposits,
opportunities and ways to prevent and mitigate the negative environmental impact,
Required scope of monitoring, which in the case of the more troublesome investments will
allow determining the actual impacts on the natural and social environment and an adjust-
ment of the means of mitigating the negative impacts.
The authorities competent to issue a decision on the environmental conditions of
planned investment are:
Regional Director of Environment Protection:
- roads,
- railway lines,
- overhead power lines,
- plants for the transport of crude oil, petroleum products, chemical substances or gas,
- artificial reservoirs,
- airports for public use,
- projects implementation in enclosed areas,
- projects implemented in the marine areas,
- change of the forest, not the property of the State Treasury, for the agricultural use;
county prefect:
- merge, exchange or division of land;
Director of the Regional Directorate of State Forests - in case of
- change of the forest, owned by the State Treasury, for the agricultural use;
- village-mayor or mayor:
- Other projects.
The Law of 3 October 2008 on the sharing of information on environment and its protec-
tion, public participation in environmental protection and the environmental impact assessment
(Pol. Ustawa z dnia 3 października 2008 r. o udostępnianiu informacji o środowisku i jego
ochronie, udziale społeczeostwa w ochronie środowiska oraz o ocenach oddziaływania na śro-
dowisko) imposes also an obligation to carry out strategic environmental impact assessment
(SEA) of the effects of the implementation of strategic documents (like concepts, policies,
strategies, plans and programmes) developed by the authorities. Carry out a strategic environ-
mental impact assessment projects require:
concepts of the country spatial planning, studies of conditions and directions of spatial
management, regional development strategies,
policies, strategies, plans or programs in the fields of industry, energy, transport, telecom-
munications, water management, waste management, forestry, agriculture, fisheries, tour-
ism and land use, developed or adopted by the administration that set the framework for
subsequent implementation of projects that may significantly affect the environment,
policies, strategies, plans or programs other than those mentioned above, which imple-
mentation may have significant impacts on the NATURA 2000 areas if they are not directly
related to its protection and are not the result of this protection.
The essence of the procedure for Environmental Impact Assessment, as an instrument of
prevention, is thus to anticipate potential threats (even in the planning phase) which can have a
significant impact on the environment, and then prevent them or reduce them.
EIA instrument is also very important for project funding opportunities from the Euro-
pean Union sources (Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 of 11 July 2006 laying down general
provisions for the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Co-
hesion Fund).
Important and obligatory part of the EIA procedure is public consultation and consulta-
tion with neighbouring countries in case of projects of transboundary impact.
6.2. Regularity of EIA carried out
According to the Resolution of the State Council for Nature Conservation from March 9,
2007 “Position on the crisis of nature conservation in Poland”, the main problems of the EIA
system in Poland, are:
Inefficiency of procedures for Environmental Impact Assessments in relation to the protec-
tion of nature and the lack of full implementation of EU directives on this issue;
Inadequate public consultation system for important decisions;
Poor cooperation with the scientific administration and NGOs.
The first problem is connected with incomplete and incorrect transposition of European
Union regulations on Environmental Impact Assessments. The most problematic is the Directive
2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2001 on the assessment
of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment and Council Directive
85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private pro-
jects on the environment and its regulations regarding EIA of plans and programs affected the
NATURA 2000 sites. Not all projects and plans that have a significant impact on the value of
NATURA 2000 are subject to the environmental assessment process. These relate to afforesta-
tion, drainage, ditch cleaning, maintenance of drainage facilities, willow planting, forest man-
agement plans, studies of conditions and directions of spatial management. Many important
legal concepts of the European Union, such as alternative variants, overriding public interest, in
practice of administrative procedures in Poland are not understood properly or are interpreted
in a manner contrary to the uniform interpretation of Community. Another problem is skipping
or marginalizing the biodiversity issue during environmental impact assessment procedures.
Most of the environmental impact reports are made without a fair recognition of components
of biodiversity, which will be affected by the proposed development, and projections about
reaction of these elements, if any are in the reports, are often not compatible with ecological
knowledge. All this leads to reduced efficiency of the Environmental Impact Assessment in Po-
land, makes wrong decisions, and creates conflicts.
The second mentioned problem refers to the lack of practice and legal guarantees of a
fair and substantive public discussion about important matters of nature conservation, includ-
ing the EIA process. Public consultations are treated only as a formality (time passed to make
comments prevents a solid analysis, often it is not known what happens with submitted com-
ments and opinions). It discourages constructive cooperation, leads to antagonizing potential
allies in efforts to protect nature and creates impression of ignoring the consulting parties. All
this reflects negatively on effectiveness, implementation and compliance of EIA procedures.
The last issue mentioned in the State Council for Nature Conservation resolution refers
to the cooperation with scientific bodies and NGOs. Non-governmental organizations are a po-
tential strong ally in the nature protection of nature, but the state authorities of nature con-
servation often a priori consider these organizations as an opponent. Also, many organizations
refrained from making co-operation with authorities. Likewise, the negative is often a relation-
ship to the academic community. Opinions contrary to the position represented by the admini-
stration are not treated as an indication of the need to discuss and analyze their actions, but as
attacks and undermining the authority of government.
What is more, current system of public participation in decisions concerning-making
process, concerning investments requiring Environmental Impact Assessment, is too bureau-
cratic and conflictual. There are too many formalities, which restrict discussion on the planned
project. Another source of conflicts and confusions is fact, that EIA procedure is stepwise. In
many cases public proposals, made during issuing the environmental decision, are not taken
into account by authorities, as they believes that this proposal should be submitted at the stage
of issuing building permits, while at this stage there is no guarantee that the proceedings of the
public participation will take place.
The current law on Environmental Impact Assessment creates conflicts connected with
an appeal or a complaint to the court, because of issued decision on the environmental condi-
tions of approval for the project. It normally does not run on the line investor – an ecological
organization, but the environmental organization – the authority issuing the decision on the
investment. Only the organization and authority are parties to the appeal and investor is only
an observer of the conflict and may try to negotiate with the environmental organization in civil
proceedings. This raises possibility of corruption and should be rather changed, that the parties
to the appeal was an investor and the applicant. Then they will be able to communicate in a
transparent manner in court proceedings leading to the settlement.
Another problematic issue is incorrect understanding of the choice of optimal invest-
ment variant both, by investor and authority issuing decision. Proposed alternatives are often
merely illusory, or the only alternative option is so-called variant "zero" – no investment.
7. Investments and enterprises on the Polish coast – good and bad
examples
7.1. Good examples
The following describes examples of good investments, activities and projects in the
Polish Baltic coast:
1. Programme Water Quality Improvement in Szczecin (Water and Sewer Company in
Szczecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship)
Programme is currently one of the biggest environmental municipal investment
project co-financed by Cohesion Fund, National Fund for Environment Protection and Wa-
ter Management, Voivodeship Fund for Environment Protection and Water Management in
Szczecin in Central Europe with estimated value of 1 170 million PLN. Project will be fin-
ished till the end of 2010.
The main objective of the project is to organize the water and wastewater man-
agement of Szczecin. Adaptation to the EU requirements will enable us to significantly in-
crease the current standards which in turn will directly contribute to improving the quality
of life in Szczecin. Implementing such a broad range of investment will greatly improve the
quality and water supply. Mainly because of reduction the pollution of the Baltic Sea and
the Odra River and reduction pollution of soil, groundwater and surface water. Will in-
crease further efficiency of the municipal water system and sewage system
which will have a significant contribution to increasing the attractiveness of the city from
the perspective of potential investors.
Program’s actions include the following works:
- construction of the modern Pomorzany Waste Water Treatment Plant, for the whole left
bank part of Szczecin, together with the installation for waste utilization,
- modernization of Zdroje Waste Water Treatment Plant for the right bank part of
Szczecin,
- construction of app. 160 km of sewerage systems, also at the housing estates that did
not have and sewerage systems, as well transmission sewerage systems,
- renovation of app. 57 km of old – over one hundred years old – sewers,
- construction of five modern pumping stations that pump waste to the waste water
treatment plants,
- construction of Filters Plant based on active carbon at the “Miedwie” water intake as
well as modernization of the process of coagulation at this intake,
- app. 80 km of water mains and water networks that will improve quality and reliability
of water supply.
2. Gdansk Water and Sewage Project (Gdansk Water Supply and Sewerage Infrastructure
Company, Pomeranian Voivodeship)
The project of modernization and development of water and sewage infrastruc-
ture, which general goal is to improve and protect the environment, clean water and soil,
protecting human health and the economy to adjust water-sewage system of the city of
Gdansk to the environmental requirements of Polish and European Union law. Implement-
ing the overarching goal will be reached by bringing urban infrastructure having a signifi-
cant impact on the environment to the well-organized level.
The four major objectives of Gdaosk water-sewer project are:
- development of the sewage treatment plant Gdaosk-Wschód,
- closing down the wastewater treatment plant Zaspa,
- improvement of water management (construction of new water supply and water
treatment plants),
- construction of sewers in areas without it (including the Gdaosk Olszynka),
- renovation of sewage pumping stations.
All these investments will be completed by the end of 2013 and total project cost is
about 833 000 000 PLN (Cohesion Fund and National Fund of Environment Protection and
Water Management).
3. Tymieo Wind Park (EEZ Company, West Pomeranian Voivodeship)
The wind farm is located in the village Tymieo, in the West Pomeranian Voivode-
ship (municipality Będzino, Koszalin County). Park was built in 2006.
Size of the project area is app. 700 ha; the area is located 5 km from the sea-
shore. It consists of 25 turbines – each with a capacity of 2 MW. Average annual electricity
production is 100 thousand MW. The resulting ecological effect is preventing the dust
emission, including 780 tonnes/year of sulphur dioxide, 110 tons/year of particulate matter
and nearly 94 thousand tons/year of carbon dioxide.
The total investment amounted to more than 250 million PLN. The project is
funded in cooperation with the Environment Protection Bank SA BOS and the National
Fund for Environment Protection and Water Management. The company received funding
under the EU Structural Funds, by the Sectoral Operational Programme Improvement of
Competitiveness of Enterprises and EcoFund Foundation.
Construction of power plants is not aroused protests of local society.
4. Pro-environmental modernization of the Dolna Odra Power Plant (Zespół Elektrowni
Dolna Odra, West Pomeranian Voivodeship)
Modernization include two major projects – Construction of FGD (Flue Gas
Desulphurization) in ”Dolna Odra Power Plant” and Construction of the boiler for combus-
tion of biomass in ”Power Plant Szczecin”. The construction cost of the boiler will be about
400 million PLN and its capacity is 230 tons of steam per hour. Switching to production of
energy from biomass is a technical revolution. Heating season 2011/2012, Power Plant
"Szczecin" will start without coal. Switching to biomass means the elimination of carbon
dioxide emissions and a significant reduction in particulate emissions, sulphur and nitro-
gen. Estimated annual consumption of eco-fuel will be 500 thousand tons.
Environmental results of the modernization are as follow:
- sulphur dioxide emissions will fall by about 1 100 tons/year (60%),
- carbon dioxide emissions will fall by about 300 000 tons/year (almost 100%),
- particulate matter emissions will be reduced by about 120 tons/year (about 62%),
- amount of furnace waste will be reduced by about 20 000 tons/year (73%),
- reduction of amount of water used for transport of furnace waste to landfill.
Expected cost of the task is expected to be app. 275 million PLN (National Fund
for Environment Protection and Water Management, Voivodeship Fund for Environment
Protection and Water Management in Szczecin).
5. Arrangement of the wastewater system in Olecko and in the Great Masurian Lakes land
(Water Supply and Sewage Company in Olecko and the Foundation for the Protection of
the Great Masurian Lakes in Giżycko, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship)
Arrangement of the wastewater in Olecko includes the expansion and recon-
struction of wastewater treatment plants, renovation and construction of new sections of
the sewerage system, renovation of seven pumping stations, expansion of monitoring of
water and sewage, construction of new water mains and water treatment plant expansion.
The planned cost of the project is over 14 million PLN (Cohesion Fund, Voivode-
ship Fund for Environment Protection and Water Management in Olsztyn).
In the frame of the project Arrangement of the water and sewage in the Great
Masurian Lakes land, will be built 450 km of sanitary sewer, 130 km of water mains, four
water treatment plants and four sewage treatment plant will be upgrade.
The anticipated project cost is about 162 million PLN (Voivodeship Fund for Envi-
ronment Protection and Water Management in Olsztyn).
Both projects will contribute to improving the environment of Warmia and Ma-
zury, especially the ecologically sensitive area of Mazury Lake District.
6. Modernization of the wastewater in the basin of Parsęta river (Association of Towns and
Communes of the Parsęta River Basin – Karlino, West Pomeranian Voivodeship)
The aim of the investment is to organize the modernization of water and waste-
water management in 22 municipalities in the basin of the river Parsęta. The scope of work
includes construction of 1382 km of the sewerage network, 955 km of the water supply
network, construction of two sewage treatment plants, pumping stations and water treat-
ment plants and modernization of 10 sewage treatment plants.
As a result, the project will increase accessibility to the public sewer for 44 000
residents of coastal areas, and to water supply, 6 500 people. There will be also reducing
the BOD load in wastewater discharged into rivers and lakes of 5.2 tons/day.
The anticipated cost of the investment is about 1 040 million PLN (Cohesion
Fund, National Fund for Environment Protection and Water Management, Voivodeship
Fund for Environment Protection and Water Management in Szczecin).
7. Rationalisation of waste management and remediation of landfills in Elblag (Waste Utili-
zation Plant in Elblag, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship)
An investment in a comprehensive manner will organize, modernize and stream-
line the waste management system in the city of Elblag and Elblag County’s municipalities
(including Tolkmicko). The project includes the construction of sorting, composting waste,
ballast rentals, new lines, the supply of containers, equipment and vehicles needed for the
operation of the system, and installation of generator connected with the installation of
biogas.
The new lines will enable increased recovery of secondary raw materials. Also
landfill Gronowo Gorne reclamation is planned (in an area of 8.5 ha). Work will be com-
pleted in 2012.
The cost of the project is more than 83 million PLN (Cohesion Fund, Voivodeship
Fund for Environment Protection and Water Management in Olsztyn).
8. Removal of hazardous waste landfills with overdue plant protection products (Warmian-
Masurian Voivodeship)
The project closed down 17 landfills and 10 warehouses of obsolete pesticides
pose threat to humans and the environment. In total, managed to remove about 320 tons
of pesticides, and physical and chemical analysis showed that the decommissioning work
effectively eliminate hazardous, toxic pollution sources of soil, surface water and ground-
water. The works were completed in 2007.
Total cost of the tasks requested of 13 million PLN (N, F, local authorities, the Re-
gional Directorate of State Forests in Olsztyn, Agricultural Property Agency in Olsztyn).
9. Biogas power-stations (West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Pomeranian Voivodeship, War-
mian-Masurian Voivodeship)
Biogas plants are an excellent alternative for power plants based on conventional
energy sources. Their biggest advantage is the possibility of environmentally friendly en-
ergy production, while actively reducing emissions. In case of biogas power-stations using
so-called landfill gas and sewage sludge comes to elimination of the emission of harmful
and foul-smelling fumes from landfills and sewage treatment plant settlers. At the same
time reduces the amount of waste. In case of agricultural biogas plants agricultural waste
and animal fertilizers are disposed.
Particularly high hopes for the agricultural biogas plants, which although not
eliminate the problem of excess fertilizers in relation to the acreage of owned farmland
(the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in natural fertilizers is not decrease in the biogas
production process, in comparison with the contents of these nutrients from the post-
production remains), are connected with elimination of a serious social problem – odours
emitted by large-scale animal farms.
Currently there are 26 biogas power-stations in the Polish shoreland (and their
number is increasing):
West Pomeranian Voivodeship:
- 2 sewage treatment plant biogas power-stations,
- 8 dump biogas power-stations;
Pomeranian Voivodeship:
- 1 sewage treatment plant biogas power-station,
- 4 dump biogas power-stations,
- 4 agricultural biogas power-stations;
Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship:
- 5 sewage treatment plant biogas power-stations,
- 2 dump biogas power-stations.
7.2. Bad examples (including Hot spots)
Currently the Polish shoreland is facing the following problems, which can also be called
Hot Spots of the Polish coast:
1. Industrial animal farms (West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Pomeranian Voivodeship, War-
mian-Masurian Voivodeship)
There are about 650 large-scale animal farms in Poland, including 126 pig farms
and 524 poultry farms (in the coastal area there are: 21 farms with more than 2000 places
for porkers (>30 kg), 31 farms with more than 750 places for sows, 74 farms with more
than 40 000 places for poultry). Those are only officially registered IPPC (Integrated Pollu-
tion Prevention and Control, IPPC), so the list do not include industrial cattle, goat, sheep
and fur animals farms, which have similar negative impact on environment and local com-
munities.
A frequent problem is improper manure storage and management, with conse-
quences such as overfertilization, enormous nitrogen and phosphorus run-off, eutrophica-
tion and odour emission. Very common is also lack of transparency of the administrative
procedures regarding industrial animal farms, and lack of access to public information
about those installations and their negative influence on the environment.
2. Dumped chemical weapons storage sites (Poland’s territorial waters and exclusive eco-
nomic zone)
A serious socio-environmental problem is the weapon of mass destruction sunk
in the Baltic Sea after World War II (mainly chemical weapons). In the Polish exclusive eco-
nomic zone five marine areas of the total area of app. 450 square kilometres were located,
where there is a risk of contamination of chemical weapons stored there. The overall
weight of chemicals dumped there is estimated at around 15 000 tonnes of chemical muni-
tions at nearly 87 000 tons. By the end of the 70s XX century Baltic Sea throwing missiles
and aerial bombs to the beaches.
In 1955, on the beach in Darłówko 120 children and 6 adults plagued with mus-
tard gas, which escaped from the chemical munitions. Since the end of the war over 160
people have been injured in such cases. In 1997, one of the fishing boats fished out a lump
of sticky, clay-like mustard gas, which burned four fishermen. Since then, there were no
reports of chemical weapons catching the Baltic Sea, but experts suspect that such cases
are not reported due to costs related to decontamination. It is difficult to assess the scale
of risk posed by the underwater chemical weapons depots.
3. Cross-border promenade in Swinoujscie (West Pomeranian Voivodeship)
Polish-German project called Cross-border Promenade between Swinoujscie and
the Municipality of Heringsdorf in the merger of two Polish-German pedestrian-bicycle
ways, in the border zone. By the promenade a platform will be built with an area of 425
square meters, from which will depart to the sea a footbridge completed by a viewpoint.
The value of the entire project is 3 125 121 EUR (City of Swinoujscie, Municipality Her-
ingsdorf, European Regional Development Fund). Completion of the project is scheduled
for the end of 2011.
Promenade will be built on the dunes. Environmental hazard posed by the con-
struction of the promenade is the foundation of housings directly on the strip of protective
dunes. So far, the belt of dunes was a closed area, separating the beach from the resort
area of Swinoujscie. Construction and operation of the promenade presents a risk to the
dunes (f.i. pollution associated with heavy tourist traffic).
4. Channel through the Vistula Spit (Pomeranian Voivodeship)
The project of the Vistula Spit Channel, near Skowronki village in Sztutowo com-
mune, is planned as an alternative water way for Elblag harbour and is supposed to be real-
ized till 2013. Channel would be about 1 200 m long, 40 meters wide and 5 meters deep. It
is planned to place the sluice gates storm, which would allow controlling water flow and
control of the situation in case of storm or flood. The entrance to the channel, from the
Baltic Sea, will be protected by the 100 meter long breakwater. Separate parts of the spit
will be connected by bridge with a two-lane roadway, railway, and a pedestrian walkway
and bicycle path. The anticipated cost of the investment is about 350 million PLN. This
would be a government investment.
The spit is unique in terms of nature values and braking of its continuity will in-
fluence the water salinity and composition of fish species in the Vistula Lagoon. It will also
increase risk of flooding and will have negative impact on wintering waterbirds. The attrac-
tion for recreational activities in the area will be reduced because of noise and pollution
from ships in the surrounding areas of the channel. The localization of the channel is also
problematic, as it is planned to be situated in the NATURA 2000 site.
5. IUU fishing (Poland’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone)
One of the problems of the Polish fisheries is an ineffective fishing control sys-
tem. As a result there is the gray economy, namely IUU (illegal, unreported and unregu-
lated). It is the main problem not only of Polish, but of the global fisheries as well. The IUU
fishing leads to an overexploitation of fisheries makes it impossible to estimate the stocks,
which is necessary for rational management of the stocks and leads to tax fraud and cor-
ruption.
The lack of transparency in activities of the Polish fisheries administration is also
a serious problem. The issues of the fishery and the fishery industry are little-known in Po-
land and remain indifferent to the majority of the Polish population, despite the fact, fish
stocks are the “national good” and belong to all citizens.
The problem is also outdated legal rules, which are inadequate to the current
situation. The process of implementation of EU law is delayed. The powerful fishery and
fishery industry lobby opposes any changes and is interested in maintaining the current
situation. There are no organizations and financial assets for activities, which aim to im-
prove the transparency of fishery and to control of exploitation and protection of overex-
ploited stocks.
6. Problems of protection of the marine cultural heritage (Poland’s territorial waters and ex-
clusive economic zone)
In Poland, the protection of archaeological heritage at present covers only terri-
torial waters. Perform related tasks hindered by lack of procedures for determining the
principles of cooperation between the maritime administration and conservation services.
Polish marine areas are divided among three Marine Offices, and their boundaries do not
coincide with the sea-bordered voivodeships. These areas are excluded from the law on
spatial planning, bringing it fully under the law on marine and maritime administration.
There are no explicit requirement to coordinate with provincial development
plans and historic monuments conservators in the law on marine areas and marine admini-
stration, led to circumvent these issues in the current work of the Maritime Administration.
As a result, there has been irreversible damage in the course of the work in the construc-
tion of the North Port of Gdansk, and the deepening of the port areas (f.i. cog wreck de-
stroyed in the port of Rowy).
Currently, a major problem is undervalued underwater cultural heritage re-
sources of the Baltic. In order to its proper use following issues should be solve:
lack of sufficient cooperation in the inventory of shipwrecks,
lack of information about shipwrecks and uniform rules for dealing with wrecks,
lack of underwater cultural heritage management.
Paying attention to the fact that there are wrecks at the Polish coast would in-
crease the message about the problems associated with their use and conservation and, at
the same time, would increase the share of wrecks tourism in the coastal tourist market. In
a situation when the fishing fleet is reduced to launch a new tourist attraction characteristic
only for coastal communities would allow the tourism-oriented reclassification of fishermen.
7. Tourist pressure on coastal areas – Kashubian Cliffs (Pomeranian Voivodeship)
Kashubian Cliffs is an area entered on the so-called Shadow List of NATURA 2000
sites, and includes 9-kilometer cliff shore from Wladyslawowo to Jastrzebia Gora. Under
protection is the edge of a cliff along the erosional incisions (Chłapowski Gorge, Łebski
Gully, Lisi Ravine and Strondowy Ravine) and adjacent to these portions of the plateau on
the crown of the cliff and the beach. Cliff is an active form of terrain, and undermines its
foundations and subsidence is natural phenomena, necessary for the presence of pioneer
vegetation, grassland and scrub. There are also species-specific characteristic of the coastal
conditions: red clover, common kidneyvetch, meadow vetchling and thicket-forming sea
buckthorn. In the erosion valleys, of great landscape values, characteristic habitats have de-
veloped – acidophilus and fertile beech forests, psammophilus grasslands and dry heaths.
The main threat of the Kashubian Cliffs is pressure from tourism – investments
(constructions) in cliffs areas causing habitat destruction and shear slope of the cliffs. Al-
though the cliff coast is an ecosystem shaped by extreme factors, it is very sensitive to hu-
man pressure. Technical Installation and use in the cliff camping area changes its dynamics
and causes transformation and depletion of natural habitats.
Although the voivode regulation prohibits excavation works, which permanently
disfiguring the land relief and locate buildings in the belt width of 200 m from the cliff
edge, economic activity is still associated with the operation of tourism – camping, camp-
sites, gastronomic infrastructure, sport and recreation facilities, buildings boarding gest-
houses and hotels. All mentioned are the main factors threatening the existence of Ka-
shubian Cliffs. Property owners are trying to circumvent any legal prohibitions, building
houses and shelters as "public purpose investments".
8. Coastal defence belt on the Hel Peninsula (Pomeranian Voivodeship)
Stone and concrete constructions of coastal defence (sea walls) involve massive
dredging, physically affecting benthic organisms, as well as landfill causing disruption of
coastal dynamics and loss of coastal habitats on the Bay of Puck, which is shallow and
highly sensitive ecosystem. The problem is also building of tourism infrastructure in poten-
tial flood and erosion areas, and lack of spatial planning. What is more, tourism activities
disturbing sensitive species.
9. Eutrophication of Odra Lagoon and Vistula Lagoon (West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Pom-
eranian Voivodeship, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship)
Both, Vistula and Odra lagoons are recognized as a non-point source HELCOM
Hot Spots, which is due to the nutrients and pollutants discharges (agricultural and indus-
trial) carried into the Polish coastal bays from the waters of the Vistula and Odra rivers.
Lagoons pollution is considered the greatest threat to biotopes in the Polish
coastal zone, as Poland remains the largest supplier of nitrates and phosphates brought by
rivers to the Baltic. There is a lack of nationwide efforts to reduce pollution of the area (al-
though the recovery process is needed to reduce nitrogen from agricultural sources). With
regard to reducing pollution and improving water quality government aims only to imple-
ment the National Program for Municipal Wastewater Treatment (Pol. Krajowy Program
Oczyszczania Ścieków Komunalnych, December 2003), although it is known that this is in-
sufficient: does not solve the problem of pollution of the area and only partially solves the
problem of discharge of phosphorus from municipal wastewater.
10. Transboundary environmental risks (Poland’s territorial waters and exclusive economic
zone, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Warmian-Masurian
Voivodeship)
Threats to the Baltic Sea environment does not result merely from the activities
of business entities located in the Polish, but also the international cross-border ventures.
One of example can be the Nord Stream Pipeline, which raises many environ-
mental concerns, associated mainly with laying the pipeline, since the bed of the Baltic Sea
is polluted by heavy metals, dumped ammunition and chemical weapons.
11. Alien species (Poland’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, West Pomeranian
Voivodeship, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship)
The problem of alien, invasive species in the Baltic Sea is difficult to foresee and
evaluate. For the most threatening native marine species following expansive species
should be considered:
polychaete Marenzelleria viridis which has been brought from America with ballast wa-
ters, and which has become a dominant species in waters close to river outlets,
Negobius melanostomus, a fish brought from the Caspian Sea, is becoming more domi-
nant in the Gulf of Gdansk.
Although the problem of invasion of alien species danger for native flora and
fauna is obvious, there is no system of early detection and long-term monitoring of the in-
vasion. There is no strategy for dealing with newly discovered invasive alien species, while
spread of invasive species can only be successful in the early stages of invasion. With each
year the cost of a potential rescue of native species before the newcomers are soaring, and
the chances of success of these activities decrease.
12. Biotopes degradation (West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Warmian-
Masurian Voivodeship, Poland’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone)
Almost all coastal biotopes are threatened by various forms of human activities:
dunes – sand stabilization (grass, f.i. Ammophila arenaria, shrubs, f.i. Salix daphnoides
and Rosa rugosa, planted on the foredunes and white dunes, results in partly artificial
dunes’ rampart; grey dunes are artificially afforested, mostly by Pinus sylvestris and also
alien species, like Pinus mugo, P. banksiana, P. nigra and P. strobus are introduced; on
brown dunes natural broad-leaves forests have been cut down and replaced by pine
monocultures; in addition, as a result of removal organic beach ridges and changing
dunes into parks with paths, lawns and planted trees, the natural zonation of dune bio-
topes and vegetation has disappeared),
coastal rivers – artificial features (regulated and straightened beds, natural banks
changed into embankments),
marshlands, wetlands and peatbogs – drainage and reclamation (natural non-forest and
forest vegetation has been replaced by grasslands, fields and tree plantations),
halophilous meadows – transformation of wetlands and ineffective forms of protection
(disappearance of protected halophilous plant communities and species).
13. Failure to comply with international conventions and agreements on environmental pro-
tection and nature conservation (West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Pomeranian Voivodeship,
Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone)
An example is an issue of non-compliance of Polish low on fertilizers contained
with regulations of the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Bal-
tic Sea Area, signed in Helsinki on 9 April 1992, which plays crucial role in ensuring an ade-
quate state of the Baltic marine environment, and ask for actual actions aimed at removal
of this non-compliance with international law. This results in a violation of Article 9 of the
Polish Constitution, which stipulates that the Republic of Poland shall respect international
law binding upon it. The main source of international law is the international agreement
binding on the State and it incurs two commitments – to apply its standards for external,
international relations and for the implementation of this law within the state.
Polish regulations are not fully adapted to the requirements in the revised Annex
III to the Helsinki Convention (the simplest example is the below analysis on the issue of
capacity of manure tanks). However, Annex III of the Helsinki Convention will not be in
force in Poland until its publication in the Journal of Laws. Apart from the urgent issue of
the publication of this annex also actions leading to the harmonization of Polish law to the
requirements set out therein should be taken.
At this point we would like to indicate a very significant non-compliance with the
Helsinki Convention on the storage/disposal of natural fertilizers. In the construction of
storage facilities involved in manure handling the general application must be indicated of
the Regulation of Minister for Agriculture and Food Economy of 7 October 1997 on the
technical conditions to be met by farm buildings and their location. However, this act was
applicable only in design, construction, reconstruction, expansion, superstructure, recon-
struction, modernization and change of use of agricultural buildings or parts thereof (not
related to previously build farms that after the entry into force of this Regulation are not
subject to the above mentioned investment processes).
So in relation to these holdings current provisions are contained in the Act of 10
July 2007 on fertilizers and fertilization. From 1 January 2009, the entities which carry out
poultry rearing or cultivation of more than 40 000 sites, or the rearing or breeding of pigs
over 2 000 sites for pigs weighing over 30kg or 750 sites for sows store manure, other than
liquid manure and slurry on impervious plates which are secured in such a way that leaks
are not released into the soil. Until 31 December 2010, these entities hold manure and
slurry in sealed, closed containers.
From 1 January 2011, a generally applicable rule shall enter into force; it will pro-
vide that manure and slurry shall be kept only in sealed containers capable of collecting of
at least 4-month production of fertilizer. These tanks should be closed tanks, as defined in
regulations issued under Article7, paragraph 2, item 2 of the Act of 7 July 1994 – Construc-
tion Law regarding the technical conditions to be met by farm buildings and their location.
By contrast, the findings contained in the Convention also apply to the construc-
tion of reservoirs to store manure. It is assumed that it must prevent leakage. Its storage
capacity should be large enough to ensure that manure is only applied when the plants can
use its nutrients. Minimum level includes 6 months of storage capacity. It also points to
certain technical requirements, such as waterproof floor and side walls. In this regard, we
deal with non-compliance of national and international law.
14. Ineffective protection of ecological corridors (West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Pomeranian
Voivodeship, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland’s territorial waters and exclusive
economic zone)
In Polish law there are no effective tools for restoration and protection of eco-
logical corridors, enabling the dispersion of animals and plants, and ensuring connectivity
between habitats. Despite the existence of good theoretical studies (comprehensive ap-
proach to protection of river valleys, the designated corridors for large carnivores), conser-
vation corridors remains largely only postulate.
The need to preserve or restore is not sufficiently taken into account in planning
procedures, ecophysiographic reports and deciding whether the location of afforestation.
Nor are there adequate guidelines for the ecosystem to maintain consistency and connec-
tivity between populations.
15. Crisis of the landscape protection (West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Pomeranian Voivode-
ship, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship)
Poland does not comply with the European Landscape Convention, which is no
transposed into Polish law. The Nature Conservation Act struck most of the records relating
to the protection of the landscape. This issue is not at all taken into account when planning
land use and spatial planning. This state is partly due to lack of standards relating to the
landscape – its valorisation and use. As a result, in many Polish regions landscape values
are at an alarming rate of degradation.
Protected Landscape Areas occupies the largest area of all forms of protection,
but are protected only virtually. In the absence of effective protection rigors, these sites
have seems just improve statistics of the percentage of protected areas.
16. Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) (West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Pomeranian Voivode-
ship, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship)
In Poland in 2004 there were designated 21 Nitrate Vulnerable Areas, which cov-
erse about 2% of the total country area. The verification of the existing OSNs in 2008 lead
to reduction of their number to 19 and limited its area, which currently is 4 623.14 square
km, representing only 1.49% of Polish territory. In comparison, about 50% of Poland's land
area is an agricultural land.
What's more, the problem is not only a very small areas occupied by the NVZs,
but also the frequent lack of effective programmes of their management.
8. Suggestions for management improvements
8.1. Best possible solution
In order to solve mentioned environmental problems of Polish Baltic coast, following
actions of multiple natures should be taken:
solutions of a political nature,
legal and organizational solutions,
solutions related to the planning of nature conservation and environmental protection,
solutions of a financial nature,
solutions for the management of protected areas and habitats,
solutions related to education and public awareness rising.
All of these subject areas must address systemic solutions (at the national level), as well
as regional (voivodship) and local (various levels of local government and communes and coun-
ties associations).
Time frames of taken corrective actions must also be diverse – the action to be taken in
the near future and the possible actions in a few-dozen or so years (depending on situation
development trends).
8.2. Steps of possible improvement
8.2.1. Need immediately
1. Recognition of the maritime space as an inherent part of the country, which means a
tighter link between land and sea spatial planning. This relationship should be provided
mainly at the level of the national spatial planning concept. Also, the Law on spatial
planning should assume that the national spatial planning concept in the future will
encompass the entire country, including the protection of marine waters.
2. Revitalization of degraded areas.
3. Marine protected areas (national parks and NATURA 2000 areas) covers over 62% of
Polish internal waters and territorial waters, but there is a need of proper recognition
of its biological resources and inventory of wildlife. Also, the designation of ecological
corridors (so-called blue corridors) connecting them, requires additional research.
4. It is recommended to create a single database of marine and coastal zone, available via
the Internet and including information about: location and characteristics of natural
resources, location of transport corridors, location of protected areas, location of off-
shore technical infrastructure (transport, navigation, mining, energy and other means,
such as sewage treatment plants), location of the dumping of hazardous materials and
weapon sunk during the Second World War, water quality in coastal areas, location of
spawning grounds and fishing waters, location of potential sites for the extraction of
sedimentary material, location of recreational sites, location of areas of cultural heri-
tage, location of marine and boundary polygons, comprehensive characterization of
the marine environment and the processes occurring in it, characteristics of the dy-
namics of the shore.
5. Completion and implementation of the NATURA 2000 network, including developing
of management programs.
6. Obligatory implementation of good agricultural practice rules.
7. Strengthening the role of the NGOs and scientific institutions, as well as their coopera-
tion with authorities in the processes connected with marine affairs.
8. Elaboration of early detection and long-term monitoring of the invasion system, in-
cluding strategy for dealing with newly discovered invasive alien species.
9. Full implementation of the Helsinki Convention and publication of revised Annex III in
the Journal of Low of the Republic of Poland.
10. Improving the control and enforcement mechanisms to comply with environmental
regulations, sanitary measures and construction law by the large-scale animal farms.
11. Supplementing the national database of the IPPC farms (Ministry of Environment) by
the horses, sheep, goats, cattle and fur-animals large-scale farms with equivalent
number of livestock.
12. Simplify procedures for public consultation and public participation in administrative
processes associated with establishment of new investments.
13. The introduction of legal instruments of protection of ecological corridors.
14. Revision of the list NVZs and increase their areas in accordance with actual needs aris-
ing from intensive agricultural land use. The development of effective programs of
NVZs management.
8.2.2. Need in the near future
1. Develop the concept of economic and social use of the Polish territorial waters and the
exclusive economic zone, in conjunction with coastal areas. This concept should dem-
onstrate sustainable development of these areas, the possible ways of their use, the
main field of conflict and ways of its management.
2. Change the present socio-economic developed strategy of marine areas into marine
spatial plans.
3. Develop plans for the marine investment, which are integrally linked with improve-
ment of the Baltic Sea natural environment.
4. Run a sea-connected business support programs, especially in the field of mariculture,
tourism and entertainment pursued at sea or in coastal areas, as well as in the field of
renewable energy or other areas recognized as an important form both – socio-
economic and environmental point of view.
5. Enhance potential of marine areas for renewable energy production, and thus
strengthening national energy security.
6. Effective, sustainable use of maritime space is impossible without long-term planning
based on agreed goals and principals, and this in turn requires a balance of relevant
legislation, eliminate conflicts, and reduce the negative externalities. These issues have
been properly understood in the so-called Blue Book of the maritime affairs.
7. Development of coastal and sea areas in Poland should follow the effective state mari-
time policy. This policy should take account of policies and strategies for sectoral and
horizontal state, including in particular the national ICZM strategy, a national strategy
to protect the banks, a national strategy on climate change, the national tourism strat-
egy and energy, transport and environment policies, as well as state defence doctrine.
8. Collision-free operation and development of technical infrastructure, including ship-
ping, adequate for transportation needs and ensure respect for the natural values of
the marine environment.
9. Ensuring the welfare of fish and designation of areas particularly well suited for fishing
(analysis of the fishing capacity of different water areas, elaboration of plans, excluding
conflicts of fishery with marine cultural heritage protection, nature conservation and
mineral deposits use).
10. As the navy training grounds location is confidential and because of earlier conflicts
need to be developed, by the Ministry of Defence, the strategy of selection and use for
the army purposes the marine areas.
11. Raising awareness of local governments to better reflect the issues of communal op-
portunities and risks connected with a seaside location.
12. Some new investments on land and at sea are needed:
- creation of a tram along the Hel Peninsula in place of the existing railway line, a tram
along the Vistula Spit, restoration of tram connecting Koszalin with Mielno, and reno-
vation of railway lines Lębork – Łeba, Słupsk – Ustka, Kolobrzeg – Białogard and
Koszalin – Szczecin (reduction of vehicular traffic),
- construction of rail-road tunnel instead of a ferry in Świnoujśe,
- investments improving the availability of small ports from the sea and land (f.i. Dzi-
wnów, Mrzeżyno, Dzwirzyno, Kolobrzeg, Ustka, Darłowo).
13. Implementation of the principles of water management at catchment level, improving
the retention of the country, with special reference to the coastal areas.
14. Public awareness rising on marine environment protection and nature conservation is-
sues (especially on the local level, due to the rule ”act local, think global”).
15. Rigorous implementation of the principles of building fish passes in all new and refur-
bished buildings partition courses and complete passes in the existing buildings.
16. Implementation of local and regional programs to protect all the waters along the Bal-
tic Sea (the reduction of industrial, municipal and agricultural pollutions).
17. Analysis of the financial background and creation of new/more effective financial
mechanisms for actions connected with marine environment protection, nature con-
servation and sustainable development of the coastal areas. Establishing clear rules of
environment protection subsidize system, both in the form of direct grants, as well as
an indirect form (f.i. preferential loans).
18. Introduction of more effective product charges (environmental taxes) for enterprises
operated in the Polish marine area.
19. Market development of local products (including tourism product) related to sustain-
able use of aquatic ecosystems and wetlands.
20. Inventory and evaluation of underwater dump areas with weapons of mass destruc-
tion, sinking in the Baltic Sea and to develop plans for their management (or elimina-
tion).
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