Law on Fisheries (Dz.U. No. 34, item 145).

This Law provides for the management of living marine resources and the regulation of sea fisheries. The provisions of this Law apply to sea fisheries within the Polish sea area boundaries and sea fisheries outside those boundaries by Polish vessels (art. 1). "Sea fisheries" includes fish stocking and mariculture. Boundaries between sea and inland waters for fishery purposes shall be defined by the Minister of Transport and Maritime Economy ("The Minister")(art. 3). Fishing in the Polish sea area may be conducted by legal entities having their place of business in Poland or natural persons who are resident in Poland. Access of foreigners to fishing in the EEZ requires a permission of the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Economy or may be a consequence of an international agreement. The Minister of Transport and Maritime Economy shall, by Ordinance, define the terms under which foreign entities are permitted to fish in the Polish EEZ (art. 4). The Minister may also, by Ordinance: (a) Determine the total allowable fishing effort; (b) ban or limit the catch, transport, landing, sale, storage of specified marine organisms; (c) regulate fishing methods of Polish vessels outside of the Polish sea areas; (d) determine the allowable volume of bycatch and methods of handling, processing etc.; (e) ban discarding of marine organisms, and; (f) require landing of marine organisms at specified ports (art. 7). Articles 8 to 13 of Chapter 2 ( entitled "Conduct of Sea Fisheries") provide for several fish resources conservation measures. The Minister shall, by Order, create a Fish Stocking Commission and shall define its organization, powers and duties (art. 14). Articles 17 to 27 (Chap. 3) provide for fishing licences and catch quotas. Fishing licences are issued by the Director of the Maritime Office (art. 18). Articles 28 to 30 (Chap. 4) make provision for the registration of Polish fishing vessels in the Maritime Office. procedures of registration shall be defined, by Ordinance, by the Minister (art. 30). Provisions of Chapter 5 regulate certain operational aspects of fishing such as the casting of nets and navigation in fishing waters, and prohibits the transport, landing, offering for sale or sale, storage and further transportation of marine organisms of which the fishing is banned pursuant to article 11. Chapter 6 is concerned with supervision of fishing activities. Provisions of Chapter 7 prescribe offences and penalties and Chapter 8 contains amendments of rules in force and transitory provisions. (46 articles)