Atlantic cod sold at Polish Baltic markets despite EU ban on local catches

Fish stalls and eateries along Poland’s Baltic coast are increasingly offering cod that originates from the Atlantic Ocean. A seller told customers that “the cod is from the Atlantic and the delivery takes about 9 hours,” after explaining that local Baltic catches of the species are now very limited.

The shift follows an EU-wide ban on cod fishing in the Baltic Sea that has been in force since 2019 to protect the depleted stock. The prohibition is regularly extended as the population has not recovered, forcing traders to source the fish from other waters. Prices for fresh and smoked fish at the markets range from about 35 zł per mackerel to 150 zł per kilogram for Atlantic cod, with customers typically spending 150–250 zł per visit.

The practice highlights the impact of the fishing ban on regional fishermen, who once relied on cod as a key source of income, and raises consumer awareness about fish provenance in the area.