Sustainable development of coastal areas – Polish experience following accession to the European Union based on the example of Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) during 2007-2013

Abstract

     The objective of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) of the European Union is to assure sustainable exploitation of the live aquatic resources and aquaculture in the context of sustainable development considering in a balanced way the environmental, economic and social considerations. Poland as a Member State of the European Union has access to structural funds. Activities financed by the EU through the Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs), i.e. entities associating representatives of widely understood fisheries sector, communes and other public and civic sector entities, that is voluntary associations operating in the areas dependent on fisheries have the largest opportunities for implementing the assumptions of the Common Fisheries Policy.
     The Fisheries Local Action Groups in Poland are the operators of the Operational Programme “Sustainable Development of the Fisheries Sector and Coastal Fishing Areas 2007-2013” [OP FISH 2007 – 2013] within the framework of priority axis 4 “Sustainable development of fisheries areas”. In the country 48 Fisheries Local Action Groups operate of which 9 are based on access to the Baltic Sea. The amount of over EUR 313 million has been allocated for implementation of priority axis 4 of the OP FISH 2007-2013. This represents ca. 32% of the funds allocated for financing of the entire Operational Programme “Sustainable Development of the Fisheries Sector and Coastal Fishing Areas 2007-2013”.
      According to the assumptions, the activities of FLAGs are to contribute to stimulation of the communities in areas dependent on fisheries by including social and economic partners from the defined area in planning and implementation of local initiatives. The paper presents the outcomes and Polish experiences from operation of the FLAGs (FLAG operation principles, projects implemented, absorption of funds allocated to financing individual types of activities within the activities of sea coast FLAGs). An attempt will also be undertaken at evaluating the outcomes from implementation of individual actions and Union funds absorption in the maritime fisheries sector resulting from activities of the Fisheries Local Action Groups. The analysis covers the years of the current financial perspective 2007-2013.
     The results of studies presented in the paper concerning the outcomes from implementation of the individual projects by the FLAGs will be based on the data obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development originating directly from selected Fisheries Local Action Groups and own field studies. Analysis covers the current financial perspective, i.e. the period of 2007-2013. Within the framework of the studies an attempt was also undertaken at determining whether a correlation exists between implementation of operations within the priority axis 4 of the OP FISH and the improvement of socioeconomic situation of the population covered by the Fisheries Local Action Groups. The Hellwig method (1968) was applied to determine the level of socioeconomic development. Indicators concerning the demographic-social, economic and related to technical and social infrastructure domains elaborated based on the data of the Central Statistical Office for the years 2004 and 2012 were applied.