The author discusses the impact of hydro-meteorological factors on the safety of fishing vessels through the presentation and discussion of the events that have taken place on the Polish fishing ships in the area of the Baltic Sea. Because it is not possible to compare the hydro-meteorological conditions on the ocean with the conditions of the closed sea, what is the Baltic Sea – the author has limited consideration to the South and the South-East Baltic which is the main area operation of Polish fisheries.It focuses mainly on criteria which have a direct impact on the safety of the fleet due to the size and nature of the work of fishermen.