been used to support the statutory research of the Marine Station on the presence of harbour porpoises
under the action point entitled ‘Biological and ecological research of marine organisms and habitats
with view to implementing more effective methods of managing their resources and protection’. Our
support was used for making construction and technical improvements to the Zelint research unit which
allow for its all- year-round use for exploration of the Baltic basin. Our activities also led to the purchase of
special cod pots for testing purposes, which are safe for harbour porpoises and seals and also make it possible
to catch living fish. In the course of several years of our cooperation, more than 25 articles and scientific
papers reflecting the researching, as well as the scientific and educational potential of the Station’s
employees have been published.
Furthermore, Grupa LOTOS supported the SAMBAH (Static Acoustic Monitoring of the Baltic Sea Harbour
Porpoise) project by co-financing the equipment and modernization of the Zelint research unit, which
significantly aided the research on presence, distribution and habitat preferences of harbour porpoises.
SAMBAH is the biggest static acoustic monitoring project regarding harbour porpoises, whose study area
stretches from the Darss and Limhamn ridges in the southwest to the northern border of the Åland
archipelago in the north. Data reflecting changes in the distribution and density of these mammals are
necessary to identify areas of their presence and their habitat preferences as well as areas with higher risk of
conflicts with anthropogenic conflicts.
An important element of the project is to develop best practice methods for research of harbour porpoises in
a low density area and to increase the awareness among the communities of the presence of this endangered
species. The knowledge acquired should also serve to develop and later implement the most efficient
methods of monitoring the presence of these rare animals. The grant from Grupa LOTOS was used to
upgrade, to provide additional equipment to and to purchase elements of the research apparatus. In effect, it
is possible to preserve the continuity of research in all measuring units of the Marine Stations. The data
acquired will be analyzed and the results will be published in 2014.
In 2013, a number of educational campaigns informing about the threats to the biodiversity of the Baltic Sea
were launched in the Tri-city area. Such projects include the 'Blue Schools' on the Hel Peninsula where
children and teenagers can meet with educators teaching about the biodiversity of the Baltic Sea. In 2013,
courses offered by the ‘Blue Schools’ were attended by 4,300 students, while the Seal Centre (Fokarium), one
of the most important facilities of the Blue Village complex, attracted more than 400,000 visitors. During the
year, some 18,000 items of informational and educational materials were handed out by the IOUG Marine
Station and the FRUG Foundation at a number of their events. One of the most important events in 2013 was
the opening of the newly-built ‘House of the Harbour Porpoise’, a building serving academic and school
education purposes, with an exhibition hall and an outdoor exhibition area to be gradually extended in the
coming years. It is a unique bank of materials on the presence of harbour porpoises, sources of scientific
information as well as of scientific materials tailored for the general public which all promote knowledge on
this species.
In 2013, we once again engaged in the ‘Clean Up the World’ campaign, with our organization of the ‘Let’s
clean up the Baltic Sea! Let’s clean up the world!’ event. 700 children from 70 Tricity primary schools were
invited to join the initiative, which took place on Gdańsk beach. During the collective cleaning event, 18,000
litres of waste was collected in compliance with the rules of waste segregation, which is triple the amount
collected as compared to 2012. The initiative was inaugurated with a ceremony of planting a tree of ‘Lovers of
the Baltic Nature’, which was part of the jubilee celebrations of the 20th edition of the ‘Clean Up the World’
campaign in Poland, to which we were invited by the Our Earth Foundation. Divers of LOTOS Straż took part in
the cleaning of the seabed. The purpose of the event was to develop a sense of responsibility for the world
around us, particularly for protecting the Baltic Sea and keeping it clean.
The ‘Chronimy NATURĘ na Wyspie Sobieszewskiej’ (‘Protect the Wildlife of the Sobieszewo
Island’) programme
Together with the Ornithological Station at the Museum and Institute of Zoology (MIZ) of the Polish
For the last 10 years, Grupa LOTOS, together with its partner the Polish Skiing Association,
has run one of the widest-ranging projects in the area of sports education – the National Ski
Jumping Development Programme, 'In Search for the Champion's Successors'. The
programme's main objective is to support young athletes practising ski-jumping and to
discover the finest Polish ski-jumping talents.
Till the end of 2013, more than 800 pieces of skiing equipment (skis complete with bindings, suits, ski-
jumping boots, and helmets) were given to the most talented young ski jumpers. One of the talents
discovered through the ‘In Search for the Champion’s Successors’ programme is Kamil Stoch, double gold
medalist of the Sochi Winter Olympic Games, winner of multiple World Cup competitions and Polish
Champion, who is also the Ambassador of the Programme. Other talented ski-jumpers who got support
through the Programme include Jakub Wolny (Individual and Team World Junior Champion), and Klemens
Murańka, Aleksander Zniszczoł and Krzysztof Biegun – Team World Junior Champions.
Another field of the Company's activities supporting young sportsmen is our work with youth groups
practising with the Lechia Gdańsk Football Academy. In 2012, the Company and the Academy jointly
launched the ‘White and Green Future with LOTOS’ programme. Ultimately, the programme will cover a
total of 3,000 children from 13 Academy’s branches outside Gdańsk, at locations across Pomerania and the
neighbouring provinces. Till the end of 2013, 10 regional branches were opened, which, together with the
Gdańsk central branch, look after 1,800 children aged 6-14. Around 70 trainers work under the programme,
using a comprehensive training programme developed by the Lechia Gdańsk Football Academy. The children
are monitored through the Junior Database, where all information about each participant and about the
teams they represent is gathered.
In 2013, we continued our support of the training of girls basketball teams at the Gdynia Basketball Society
(GTK). A total of around 300 young basketballers practise with the GTK, who won the Polish U-18 National
Championship in 2013. We also cooperated with the Wybrzeże Gdańsk Speedway Club Association,
which trains children and youth. The aim of the Speedway Youth School is to develop young riders to join
the first team of GKS Wybrzeże – the LOTOS Wybrzeże Gdańsk club. One of the beneficiaries is Krystian
Pieszczek, called the hope of Gdańsk speedway and winner of the Brown Helmet in 2013. Additionally, we
acted as the main sponsor of the Gdańsk Sailing Club, which promotes water sports among large groups of
children and youths representing different sailing and windsurfing classes.
Protection of the environment and ecology
As our refinery is located on the coast of the Baltic Sea, many of our initiatives are related to the protection of
its resources. Our partners include: the Foundation for the Development of Gdańsk University (FRUG)
and the Marine Station of the University’s Institute of Oceanography (IOUG) in Hel. Together with these
institutions, we have implemented projects, under the name of the 'LOTOS Protects the Baltic Sea’s Wildlife',
aimed at protecting the natural riches of the Baltic Sea. Another programme we pursue in the areas of great
natural value NATURA 2000, together with the Kuling Waterbird Research Group, the Ornithological Station
at the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Association of
Sobieszewo Island Lovers, is the long-term 'Chronimy NATURĘ na Wyspie Sobieszewskiej' (Protect the
Wildlife of the Sobieszewo Island) programme.
The 'LOTOS Protects the Baltic Sea’s Wildlife' programme
Grupa LOTOS cooperates with the FRUG Foundation and the IOUG Marine Station on protection of, research
on and communication about the biodiversity of the Baltic Sea. The IOUG Marine Station conducts research
projects on the biology and ecology of coastal fish in the Baltic Sea as well as of marine mammals and their
habitats. In 2013, we were involved in actions designed to prevent the extinction of the endangered harbour
porpoise, the only cetaceans permanently inhabiting the Baltic Sea.
The equipment purchased in the course of our cooperation, which already goes back several years, has also
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Integrated Annual Report 2013 - Grupa LOTOS S.A. Win the Future