Ruptly
"Fishermen in Italy's coastal town of Porto Ercole fear bankruptcy and economic paralysis due to soaring fuel costs resulting from the US-Iran war, with many fearing 'fishing in Italy is finished.' Footage from Tuesday shows fishing boats docked at the port, with fishermen seen fixing and gathering their nets. A gas station is also visible near the docks, along with a road sign reading 'Fishermen Street, One of the most beautiful villages in Italy.' "This is a critical time for the fishing industry because, before the war broke out, we were paying 78–79 cents for diesel; now the price has risen to €1.40. There is no longer any profit margin, and we are considering taking the fishing boats out of service because it is no longer viable," said Carlo Mazzella, a ship owner and fisherman. "A fishing boat uses 1,000 litres a day; it’s impossible to keep going. Everything has doubled in price, yet the price of fish has remained the same," he explained. Town councillor Marco Di Nieto also noted that the war and the high cost of fuel have dealt a final blow, as fishing boats are threatening to stop going out to sea, depriving locals of access to freshly caught fish. "A cap on high diesel prices might be a temporary solution, but it must be implemented immediately because the liquidity crisis is happening right now," the councillor added, acknowledging that the sector is in serious difficulty. Diesel prices in Italy have surged to over €2 per litre, following escalating conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a disruption the International Energy Agency has described as the 'greatest global energy security challenge in history'. "We'll eat imported fish! We want to eat pangasius from China, so let’s keep eating it! Fishing in Italy is finished," Mazzella added. While local markets brace for empty shelves, the Italian government announced an emergency €100 million tax credit specifically for the road haulage and fishing sectors. The pressure has extended to Brussels, where the EU Fisheries Committee is pushing to activate emergency support mechanisms similar to those used in 2022."
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