Key facts
- Greece will use EU funds to pay fishermen to catch invasive pufferfish.
- The pilot scheme will operate in Crete and the South Aegean.
- Fishermen will be paid a maximum of €5.33 per kilo for pufferfish.
- The initiative aims to boost incomes and control the invasive species.
- Other measures include fuel subsidies and compensation for fishing restrictions.
Greece is launching a pilot program to pay professional fishermen to catch invasive pufferfish, utilizing European Union funds. This initiative is part of a larger support package designed to assist fishers who are grappling with the impacts of climate change and other challenges.
The program, announced by Margaritis Schinas, the Minister of Rural Development and Food, aims to both increase the income of fishermen and control the proliferation of the toxic pufferfish, which has been damaging fishing equipment. Fishermen will receive a maximum payment of €5.33 per kilo for the invasive species, a rate significantly higher than that applied in Cyprus.
Beyond the pufferfish initiative, the support package includes six other measures. These encompass fuel subsidies for professional fishermen, the creation of a compensation mechanism for those affected by fishing restrictions in national marine parks, and proposed legislative changes to reduce vessel operating costs and facilitate entry into the sector. Additionally, the plan involves strengthening the representation of professional fishermen in decision-making bodies, implementing stricter oversight of recreational fishing to combat illegal trade, and rationalizing the sanctions system for fishing violations.
Ioannis Bountoukos, president of the Panhellenic Association of Midwater Fisheries, acknowledged the positive direction of some measures but expressed concerns about the sufficiency of financial support, particularly for fuel costs. He noted that the pufferfish pilot program, while a step in the right direction, is geographically limited and does not cover all affected professionals. Bountoukos also emphasized the need for adequate scientific backing for fishing restrictions and called for stronger funding and meaningful participation of fishermen in policy decisions.