The key items in the agenda were as follows:

• the aspects to be analysed to enable the fisheries and aquaculture sectors coping with the external and internal pressures;
• activities at the EU level necessary in the following institutional cycle (2024-2029);
• capacities in the area of greater use, collection and processing of data, including in particular big data sets, to additionally strengthen the three pillars of sustainable development.

Position of Poland

Deputy Minister Jacek Czerniak emphasized in his speech that the existing condition of the fish stocks in the Baltic See, which is the most important fishing area for the Polish fishing fleet, raises concerns. This triggers the need for implementing the relevant safety net measures and incentives to support the fishermen willing to continue their operation in the sector and in the related industry.

The Polish Deputy Minister noted also that enhancing food security requires the measures promoting further development of aquaculture, among others in the areas of co-existence of the offshore wind farms and using the available onshore areas. Increasing the attractiveness of the aquaculture sector is necessary and possible thanks to the targeted financial support, reducing the administrative barriers, enhancing the industry competitiveness, creating the conditions for starting the activity by young specialists and reducing the pressure from the loss-generating piscivorous species. In the following EU institutional cycle (2024-2029), it is necessary to focus on the measures contributing to the increase of the production capacity of the sustainable aquaculture and ecosystem-based fisheries management.

In addition, the Deputy Minister pointed out that the aspect of continued collection of data acquired from the fishermen and (aquaculture) breeders is a necessary element for making future political decisions. The conclusions from collected data and scientific analysis form the essential basis for the decision-making process. Therefore, in the opinion of the Deputy Minister, the efforts to gain scientific knowledge on both the environmental and socio-economic aspects should be taken.