Overseas
“If Europe’s goal is to wipe out Italian fisheries, then it should have the courage to say so openly—and give us a government job, because with these measures we can no longer fish. We barely survive.”
With these harsh and provocative words, Natale Amoroso, President of AIC Pesca, responds to the European Commission’s proposals on fishing opportunities for 2026.
The new measures—which include a 64% reduction in trawling effort, a 25% cut for longlines, catch limits for deep-water shrimps and pelagic species, and additional restrictions in the Strait of Sicily and the Ionian Sea—represent, according to Amoroso, “a direct attack on the dignity and survival of the Italian fleet.”
“You cannot speak of sustainability while imposing cuts that make work impossible. It’s like asking a farmer to cultivate without land. If Europe truly wants the end of fishing, then give us a public contract and put us behind a desk. But don’t deceive us with the word ‘transition’ while taking the sea out from under our feet.”
Amoroso calls on Minister Lollobrigida for a clear and immediate stance:
“We cannot passively accept a proposal that is not only economically unsustainable but also socially devastating. Coastal communities risk emptying out, traditions risk disappearing, and fishermen risk becoming museum pieces.”
The AIC Pesca president says he is ready to join a European mobilization with French and Spanish colleagues:
“We need a strong response—a united front. We cannot allow Brussels to decide our future without listening to us. The Mediterranean is not a laboratory; it is our home.”
For more insights on the future of Italian fisheries and the blue economy, follow ongoing coverage and analysis on Pesceinrete.
