ACTA SCIENTIARUM POLONORUM - SGGW

152 J. Zieziula, A. Malkowska, P. NowaczykTable 2. Functions of the fishing ports of the Szczecin BayTabela 2. Funkcje portów rybackich Zalewu SzczecińskiegoFunction typeCommune name (port)Fishing Tourism TransportKamień Pomorski (Kamień Pomorski) + + –Stepnica (Stepnica) + + –Police (Trzebież) + + –Wolin (Wolin) + + –Nowe Warpno (Nowe Warpno) + + –Międzyzdroje (Lubin) + + –Key: + function realized by the port; – function not realized by the portSource: Self-study prepared on the basis of the research conducted between 2008–2010.Źródło: Opracowanie własne na podstawie badań przeprowadzonych w latach 2008–2010.THE EVALUATION OF THE GENERAL SITUATION OF FISHERIES OF THESZCZECIN BAY BY COMMUNE SELF-GOVERNMENTSSupporting of fishery development by commune self-governments requires their beingaware of its general situation. Research showed that this kind of knowledge is notalways sufficient. The authorities of Kamień Pomorski, for instance, were not able toevaluate the situation of fisheries and fishermen in the commune, in Nowe Warpno theyassessed it as very bad, and in Wolin as bad. Międzyzdroje, Stepnica and Police evaluatedit as good or very good. According to local authorities, the unfavourable situation offisheries in the region results mainly from the lack of resources for new equipment, fry-stockingand fishermen’s initiative. This is proved by fishermen’s resignation from work and a significantreduction of fishing boats.The bad condition of fisheries in some of the communes of the Szczecin Bay forced fishermento change the type of the conducted activity. Tourism may be an alternative for them.In the opinion of self-governments, the region of the Szczecin Bay provides favourable naturalconditions for the development of this economic function. Unfortunately, it is impededby the bad technical condition of tourist infrastructure and the low number of passengerboats unable to keep the pace with the growing demand for cruises on the Szczecin Bay.The element that is indispensable in supporting the fisheries of the Szczecin Bay and tourismis maintaining of the fishing ports. The act of 20 December 1996 on sea ports and harboursopened the possibility of their communalization and acquisition by self governments,which seem to be the most suitable managing entities [Sosidko 2004, pp. 119–130]. This isconfirmed with the results of the research conducted in the communalized ports of the SzczecinBay – Stepnica (the commune of Stepnica was the first commune in Poland to carry outcommunalization of a fishing port [Pluciński 1999, pp. 22–29]), in Nowe Warpno and KamieńPomorski (communalization was carried out in December 2010).By managing the port areas the communes were able to realize many more tasks as comparedwith the previous port administrator – the Maritime Office in Szczecin – see Table 3.Competences of the Maritime Office were limited by the act of 21 March 1991 on mari-Acta Sci. Pol.