Sanja Matić Skoko from the Oceanography and Fishing Institute said everyone is aware of the catastrophic situation. She feels only stricter measures can achieve something
The formation of the State Fishing Office is one of the demands sent from the Fishermen’s Meeting in Rabac on Sunday. Among the conclusions of the meeting was also the one of a demand for a VAT reduction on fish and other sea organism and that fishermen with small private companies be entitled to privileged pensions- This year the professionals went after sports fishermen and recreationalists, demanding increased control of non-economic fishing, Poslovni Dnevnik reported on October 8, 2017.
The conclusion preceding the reading of conclusions was interesting. Igor Kralj, a fisherman from Baška Voda, feels the coastal band is the largest hatchery and needs special protection, not just the Jabuka hollow. “The protection of hake will not regenerate certain other species, such as grouper, monkfish. Do you even know which area I am talking about? I speak of miles of shoreline, where 50 percent of illegal fishing goes on, and the rest fish with illegal tools in an illegal way. Habitats are completely destroyed, our sea is full of nets, traps, there isn’t a cape of bay without them. One intervention removed all illegal anchorages. If you can remove those, then you can remove the nets constantly in the sea.”
Assistant Agriculture Minister Ante Mišura replied there are attempts to protect the coastal bands, but also warned that some of the fishermen constantly demand exceptions for certain tools. As for recreationalists, he said they will have to place special markings on caught fish (so they cannot sell it), and in case they do not, fines will be severe. He also promised more maritime controls and a much stronger control of recreationalists and sports fishermen.
Sanja Matić Skoko from the Oceanography and Fishing Institute said everyone is aware of the catastrophic situation. She feels only stricter measures can achieve something. “We can allow anything, but then I don’t know what you will fish for.” Mate Oberan, President of the Croatian Fishermen’s Guild, pointed out than in any case the fishing strain in the coastal band must be reduced, concluding: “But I do not know if anything can be saved anymore.”
Translated from Poslovni Dnevnik.
