Fishermen face drastic cuts: only five days a month for sardine fishing

Sardine populations in the Adriatic Sea have reached historically low levels, prompting urgent government intervention. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries is set to introduce new, stringent regulations for sardine fishermen, significantly limiting their operational days.

The core of the new measures involves a drastic reduction in fishing days. Currently, fishermen are permitted 20 days per month in fishing zone A. This will be slashed to just five days per month per permit until the winter fishing ban begins. This decision comes as the biomass of sardines has plummeted, while the fishing mortality rate has surged to 2.39 times the desired level.

According to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister David Vlajčić, the primary goal is to halt the further depletion of this vital marine resource. "Climate change and everything else are contributing to fewer fish, and fishing pressure is too high, especially in the northern Adriatic, which is an important area for sardine feeding and growth," Vlajčić explained. He emphasized that these measures are crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability of Adriatic sardine and anchovy stocks.

In addition to the sardine fishing restrictions, the ministry is also proposing changes to other agricultural support programs. These include increased annual support for sugar beet producers and funding for the certification of protected origin and geographical indication products. These broader initiatives aim to support domestic agriculture and food production chains.

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Climate change and everything else are contributing to fewer fish, and fishing pressure is too high, especially in the northern Adriatic, which is an important area for sardine feeding and growth.