January 30, 2022 - The current state of fisheries is unsustainable in the long run. Fish purchase prices have remained the same as 15 years ago, but input costs have tripled, warns the HPK Fisheries Committee. Croatian Fishermen are dissatisfied, among other reasons, because their boats were twice as old as their captains.
Purchase prices of fish remained at the same level as 15 years ago, while prices of blue diesel rose three times, as well as other input costs such as a bucket of motor oil that cost 100 kuna, now costs as much as 236, was heard at a meeting of HPK Fisheries with the Minister of Agriculture Marija Vučković.
The problem of the age of ships, which need to be renovated, was also emphasized, and the available European funds, they claim, do not allow them to do so.
"During the negotiations on fisheries, the age of ships, which are currently a big risk for fishermen's business, was not taken into account when Croatia joined the EU. Fishing boats are on average twice as old as the captains who sail them.
This disparity between Croatian fishermen fighting the market and huge investments in controls and the state apparatus is by no means good for the whole sector and its efficiency. If they could, every owner would put their boats in the scrap yard because the work is not worth it. We are also worried about the future of fishing, which is decreasing every day", warned the president of the board, Petar Baranović.
Fisheries operational programs were not available to small fishermen either, which is why there is great dissatisfaction among them. Therefore, they suggest that in the new programming period, funds for fisheries be focused on strengthening the market position and co-financing technical correctness, as well as on improving the safety of vessels through modernization and reconstruction.
Source: Večernji List
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