New! Oxy fishermen on the verge of collapse – a political paradox

wbijamszpile.pl 9 months ago

Oxy, erstwhile 1 of the key districts of Gdynia, known for its fishing traditions, is now facing a paradox. On the 1 hand, the authorities want to preserve fishing boats as a symbol of heritage, invest in the modernisation of the marina and organise festivals that are meant to emphasize the importance of this profession for the local community. On the another hand, the rules imposed by the European Commission and national catch restrictions, including peculiarly strict limits on cod and herring, make fishermen lose their jobs. Oxy fishermen are on the verge of collapse.

Such actions lead to absurdity: on the 1 hand, we celebrate the past and on the other, we destruct the future of fishing.

Oxy cutters as a symbol of heritage

The authorities of Gdynia take over and repair old fishing boats that have been cut into pieces and plan to fold them in specified a way that they can no longer be utilized for fishing. This aims at commemorating the fishing tradition of Oxyvia. In many statements of representatives of the municipal office, e.g. Łukasz Kobus from the City of Gdynia, there is an emphasis on the importance of maintaining these boats as souvenirs of erstwhile fishermen.

But the problem is that specified actions are just empty gestures. Fishermen whose fishing boats are to become monuments lose their livelihood. They have been struggling for years with expanding legal constraints, which practically prevent them from operating. erstwhile the city presents its plans to transform boats into “remembrances”, the question arises: do officials realize what actual heritage protection means?

Oxy fishermen. Provisions versus everyday life

One of the main problems facing Oxyvia fishermen is the introduction of increasingly restrictive catch limits by the European Commission in the Baltic. Since 2020 there has been a full ban on cod fishing, which for many fishermen was a key species. Despite these prohibitions, the cod population inactive shows no signs of recovery, causing the EC to propose further reductions in fishing quotas. A simplification of 73% is planned for the Western Baltic and 68% for the east Baltic.

Not only cod, but another species of fish are severely restricted. For example, herring, another key species for Baltic fishermen, is besides subject to restrictions. Although herring numbers have increased in the central Baltic, the western part of the sea faces a serious population decline.

Logic without logic: wharf repairs and catch limitations

In the meantime, local authorities proudly open modern havens specified as the 1 on Oxyvia. Recently, in 2018 another phase of expansion of the fishing marina was completed, for which over PLN 3.6 million was spent. fresh infrastructure, including electrical boat launching equipment, lighting and monitoring, is intended to service fishermen.

But is it an investment in the future, since in practice fishermen have nothing to fish for?

Modern marinas are almost empty, due to the fact that fishing restrictions and economical problems related to fishing activities make many fishermen no longer have a chance of surviving off this profession. The authorities are renovating the waterfront and at the same time leading to a situation where there is no 1 or anything to exposure them to.

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Support for fishermen – empty promises?

In consequence to the crisis, the Polish government prepared a bill to support shipowners who endure losses as a consequence of the ban on cod fishing. Financial support will be provided to those who decide to scrap their vessels, decommission them or transfer them to public administrations .

However, this aid is simply a patch for open wounds. For many fishermen, this means a definitive end to activity, not actual support in continuing to work. Getting compensation for scrapping the boat is alternatively a symbolic motion that does not solve the deep crisis in the fishing industry.

For the people of Oxyvia who have been fishing for generations, specified support is more a conviction than a chance of survival.

EU limits versus the future of fisheries

On the 1 hand, the European Commission's decisions seem essential to save fish stocks in the Baltic, but on the another hand, their effects are dramatic for local fishing communities. Fishing limits are intended to prevent the full breakdown of the cod and herring populations, but at the same time take distant the livelihood of fishermen.

The EC points out that the Baltic Sea is 1 of the most polluted waters in Europe, which further impedes the recovery of the fish population. The problem of overfishing and environmental degradation is global challenges, but the effects of these problems are mainly felt by fishermen specified as those from Oxyvia.

Lost Politics and Empty gestures

Oxy fishermen are in an impossible situation. On the 1 hand, the municipal authorities invest in the marina, hold the old boats as a symbol of heritage, and on the another hand, there are increasingly restrictive rules that destruct fishing industry.

This is simply a clear example of political inconsistencies, which, alternatively of supporting the local community, leads it to the brink of collapse.

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