COLLECTING GHOST NETS IN THE BALTIC SEA - WWF

© WWF / P. Necel
4. Disposal of the
retrieved material
Administrators of ports
and harbours are obliged to develop
and implement waste management plans
for waste generated by vessels.
4.1. The obligation of reporting cases
of net loss in the light of regulations
concerning sea fishing and the
procedures applying to ghost nets
retrieved from the sea
The formalities connected with reporting cases
of net loss have been regulated by EU sea fishing
regulations and discussed in detail in the pilot project
report. This also applies to the procedures for
handling nets recovered from the sea. Nevertheless,
it is also necessary to take into account the
provisions of the Act of 12 September 2002 on port
facilities for the reception of waste and cargo residues
from vessels. Pursuant to this act, administrators
of ports and harbours are obliged to develop
and implement waste management plans for waste
generated by vessels. In areas falling within the
jurisdiction of the Maritime Office in Szczecin, such
plans are developed for all non-communal ports
and harbours, including beach harbours.
For example, the plan for the harbour in Niechorze
contains a detailed description of procedures for the
reception, transport, recycling, treatment and disposal
of waste. The plans for ports and harbours
of the central coast (under the authority of the Maritime
Office in Słupsk) were developed with a considerable
delay (e.g. the plan for the port in Rowy
was not consulted with port users until the 8th
of February 2013).
The section below describes the current situation
with respect to vessel-generated waste management
in Polish fishing ports, with particular emphasis
on fishing nets retrieved from the sea (recovered
by fishing vessels or supplied by the Border
Guard or Fisheries Inspectorate officers). The information
was obtained from interviews with masters
of ports under the authority of Maritime Offices or,
in the case of communal ports, with the chairmen
or environmental officers of Port Authorities.
Apparently, all ports have developed plans for the
management of vessel-generated waste, including
fishing gear; so far fishing gear has only been
disposed of at landfills, rather than recycled.
22 COLLECTING GHOST NETS IN THE BALTIC SEA