The European economy, including Poland, is highly dependent on marine waters. Therefore, on June 17, 2008, a directive for all seas of the European Union was adopted – Framework Directive 2008/56 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive – MSFD). One of its key tasks is the obligation to periodically update the maritime strategy. Currently, the second cycle of implementation of the directive is underway, the main objectives of which are to prevent degradation of the marine environment, restore marine ecosystems, and prevent and eliminate pollution of the marine environment.

In Poland, pursuant to Art. 144 of the Water Law Act, the marine strategy constitutes the following set of activities:

• preparation of a preliminary assessment of the environmental status of marine waters;
• development of a set of properties typical for good environmental status of marine waters;
• the development of a set of environmental targets for marine waters and associated indicators, referred to as the “set of environmental targets for marine waters”;
• development and implementation of a sea water monitoring program;
• development and implementation of a program for the protection of marine waters.

The National Marine Water Protection Program is a program document that defines a set of actions necessary to achieve or maintain good environmental status (GES).

As part of the work on aPOWM, the results of the update of the preliminary assessment of the environmental status of marine waters will be taken into account, along with the update of the set of properties typical for good environmental status of marine waters developed by the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection and the update of the set of environmental objectives for marine waters prepared by the PGW WP KZGW.

APOWM consists of three stages which will end with the development of an action program.

Stage I – Development of a methodology and performance of a gap analysis. At this stage, the main tasks will be:

• analysis of updated planning documents that will be the basis for the development of aPOWM;
• methodology of work, including the method of performing the gap analysis (method of assessing the sufficiency of activities in achieving GES, taking into account the degree of reduction of anthropogenic pressures by the implementation of activities currently being implemented, a list of existing activities with implementation status, a list of pressures, and the method of taking into account future socio-economic development)

Stage II is to prepare the aPOWM project together with the strategic environmental impact assessment project. This stage of work will include the following tasks:

• List of basic and immediate actions necessary to achieve or maintain good status of marine waters;
• Cost-benefit analysis of “new activities”;
• Proposing derogations from taking action and achieving environmental goals;
• Conducting a strategic environmental impact assessment of the draft update of the marine water protection program.

During Stage III, public consultations of the aPOWM project will be carried out and the development of the final version of aPOWM will be conducted.

APOWM public consultations will take place from July 5, 2021 to October 5, 2021. The accompanying information and promotion activities will continue throughout the entire project implementation period.

3 national conferences and information meetings for representatives of Maritime Offices will be organized. Educational activities for students of the Maritime University, as well as a competition for entrepreneurs will also be carried out.

The project will be completed with the preparation of a report for the European Commission, which is planned for March 31, 2022.

It should be emphasized that the aPOWM project will contribute to the comprehensive improvement of the water management condition in Poland implemented by Polish Waters. Shipping, fishing, tourism; this is only part of the sectors dependent on the Baltic Sea. Maintaining or restoring the good environmental status of marine waters is not only a formal requirement, but also a human obligation as a user of the marine ecosystem.MSF5