The Polish Baltic Sea plays an important role in the economy of Poland. It enables the development of transportation as well as sea ports. The biggest influence in transportation of various goods in Poland has been the sea routes Szczecin-Swinoujscie and Gdansk-Gdynia. The Polish ports are universal, however, each of them is marked with certain specialization. In Swinoujcie the goods that are transported are: coal, ores and chemical raw materials; in Szczecin: ores and chemical raw materials, grain and piece-goods; in Gdansk: coal, wood, sulfur and grain where another port- North Port contributes to the transportation as well, specializing in transferring hard coal and petroleum. Some minor ports in Kolobrzeg, Darlowek, Ustka and Elblag have local significance as well.
In recent years there has been a big development of ferry navigation, especially on the route from Swinoujscie to the ports of Scandinavian countries. In the 1960s, inauguration of ferry lines from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany and Great Britain has started passenger-traffic as well as transportation of cars, vans and carriages. Nowadays, the biggest ferry lines are Swinoujscie-Ystad and Swinoujscie-Malmoe.
Shipyard industry has developed throughout the years as well. The biggest shipyards around the area of the Baltic Sea are located in Szczecin, Gdansk and Gdynia. Lots of different types of ships such as ( kontenerowce, drobnicowce, chemikaliowce ) have been built here.
Access to the Baltic Sea has also enabled development of the fishing industry. There are plenty of fish that are caught in Polish Baltic Sea including sprat, cod, mackerel, salmon and eel. The fish that inhabit the most salted region of the sea ( Basen Botnicki ) are: pike and sheat-fish to name but a few. The largest number of fish industries are said to be found in Szczecin, Kolobrzeg, Gdansk and Gdynia.
The Baltic Sea also stores the most famous Polish stone - amber. Fossilized over 40 million years ago, amber is now the material of choice among contemporary designers. Various workshops in Gdansk, Warsaw and other large towns turn this precious item into jewelry, lamps, medals and clocks.
The tourism industries have undergone a rapid development along the coastline of the Baltic Sea as well. The best-known sea resorts at the Polish seaside are Sopot, Kolobrzeg, Miedzyzdroje, Swinoujscie and the most favored: Leba and Ustka. The two towns are engaged in a yearly dispute about which one of them deserves the honor of being called the summer capital of Poland.
The Baltic Sea plays an important role in the economy of Poland as evidenced from the examples above. The rapidly developing ports, as well as industries illustrate that The Baltic Sea has, and will continue to be, beneficial for Poland, as well as other countries.
