Greece launches rabbitfish eradication plan, subsidizing fishermen

The Greek government is prioritizing support for fishermen as part of a strategy to tackle the proliferation of invasive rabbitfish in the country's seas. The initiative aims to incentivize the targeted capture of these fish, which have become a significant ecological and economic concern.

According to Yannis Adrianos, the Deputy Minister of Rural Development, the government plans to offer financial incentives for catching rabbitfish. The target subsidy is set at 4.73 euros per kilogram. Adrianos emphasized that while the current plan is crucial, a more comprehensive strategy should have been put in place a decade ago to address the issue proactively.

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The support of fishermen is a key priority for the government in addressing the spread of rabbitfish in the Greek seas.

The program seeks to control the expanding population of rabbitfish, which negatively impacts native fish stocks and the livelihoods of traditional fishermen. By providing economic motivation, the government hopes to encourage widespread participation from the fishing community in this control effort.

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It should have been planned 10 years ago.