For several years, there has been an increasing emphasis on the importance of short supply chains in agriculture in Poland. This also applies to aquaculture, where the topic of direct selling of carp - 'from the pond to the table' - has ceased to be a slogan and has started to become a real direction for market development. In this context, from September 17 to 19, an international information and promotion conference for youth titled 'Direct Selling of Carp', organized by the Local Fisheries Group 'Świętokrzyski Karp' as part of an ongoing project, took place.
This time we opted for a travel and international format. Youth and teachers from the School Complex in Sieraków were invited to participate in the conference, who together with a group of Polish experts visited the fishing school in Vodňany, Czech Republic, as well as several aquaculture facilities in southern Czech Republic. The aim of the trip was not only the exchange of knowledge but, above all, to show young people how direct selling of carp operates in various market models in practice.
The visit began with a warm welcome of the Polish delegation by the director of the fishing school in Vodňany, Pavel Vejsada. Even the first moments spent in the institution made a significant impression. The school, which has been around for over 100 years, is excellently funded and equipped with modern facilities. Hydrobiology laboratories, rooms dedicated to pond construction, functional interiors connected to a dining hall and dormitory - all of this creates a space where vocational education takes place in direct contact with practice.
Located just a short distance from the school are pond facilities belonging to both the institution and the South Bohemian University in České Budějovice. It is here that students receive practical training, learning not only about fish production but also the organization of the entire fishing farm's infrastructure.
The main part of the conference took place in the school in Vodňany, where Polish and Czech students, teachers, and experts from both sides participated. Six presentations were given, covering a wide range of issues related to the carp market and direct selling:
After the presentations, it was time for a discussion - lively, concrete, and at times very comparative. Participants quickly noticed the differences between the Polish and Czech carp markets. In the Czech Republic, a clear advantage in the organization of wholesale trade is evident due to the small number of large fishing entities. Conversely, the Polish model turned out to be much more developed in the area of the local market - direct selling, family processing, gastronomy at fishing farms, and various forms of consumer contact.
Czech partners noted the pressing need to reactivate direct selling in their market, evaluating Polish solutions very positively. They also appreciated the Code of Good Practice for Carp Farming and Breeding implemented in Polish farms, as well as the 'ABC of Carp Selling'.
For students of fishing schools, participation in the conference was more than just listening to presentations. The Polish-Czech meeting allowed them to look at their future professional work from a broader perspective - not only from a production standpoint but also from a commercial and marketing one. Youth could see how the modern carp market looks like in two countries that are leaders in carp economy in the European Union.
Not insignificantly, the meeting also included a less formal part. It ended with a joint dinner at the 'Zlaty Soudek' restaurant, where - it is worth emphasizing - excellent carp was served. This was a moment for conversation, experience exchange, and establishing relationships that are often as important as official presentations. At the end, participants exchanged small gifts, including a Czech-Polish fish atlas, expressing their willingness for further cooperation and future joint initiatives.
The international conference in the Czech Republic demonstrated that the direct selling of carp is not just a local issue but a matter of European importance. The exchange of experiences, the opportunity to compare market models, and the engagement of youth in discussions about the future of aquaculture are values that fit perfectly into the objectives of the implemented project.
This meeting was another step towards building a conscious, modern approach to carp sales - based on knowledge, practice, and cooperation across borders.
