Greece is deploying European Union funds to help its fishing sector combat the dual pressures of climate change and invasive species. Margaritis Schinas, the Minister of Rural Development and Food, announced a package of measures on Tuesday designed to cut operating costs, safeguard incomes, and stabilise the regulatory environment for professional fishers.
The centrepiece is a pilot programme targeting the toxic pufferfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus), an invasive species that has proliferated in Greek waters in recent years. The fish, which arrived via the Suez Canal, damages nets and equipment with its powerful jaws and poses a threat to local marine biodiversity. Under the scheme, professional fishers in Crete and the South Aegean will receive up to €5.33 per kilo for catching the pufferfish — a rate the ministry says is 52 per cent higher than similar payments in Cyprus.
“This is a step to both boost fishers’ incomes and curb the spread of this particular invasive species,” Schinas said after meeting with representatives from the fishing sector. Only licensed professionals will be allowed to catch the pufferfish, which is poisonous and cannot be sold for human consumption.
Broader Support for a Stressed Sector
The pufferfish subsidy is one of seven measures in the package. Others include a temporary fuel subsidy: €0.16 per litre for April and May, dropping to €0.12 per litre in June. Implementation requires a legislative amendment, according to the ministry.
A compensation mechanism will be created for fishers affected by restrictions in national marine parks, designed jointly with the Ministry of Environment and Energy. The aim is to balance environmental protection with the economic needs of coastal and island communities — a tension that has grown as Greece expands its network of protected areas.
The ministry also proposes changes to the Common Fisheries Policy and national law, including lifting the ban on funding for engine upgrades to reduce vessels’ operating costs. It seeks to encourage investment in safer, more efficient fishing boats and to simplify entry for new professionals.
Institutional reforms include giving fishers a stronger voice in decision-making. A legislative intervention will ensure representation by type of fishing gear at regional and national levels, including the Fisheries Council. “Decisions affecting the sector should be taken with the participation of the professionals themselves,” Schinas emphasised.
Stricter oversight of recreational fishing is also planned, with a new register of amateur fishers and an obligation to record catches. The goal is to curb illegal fish trade and unfair competition. Meanwhile, the sanctions system will be rationalised: suspension of a fishing vessel will no longer be automatic but reserved for repeat offences, based on a points system aligned with European law.
Mixed Reactions from the Industry
Ioannis Bountoukos, president of the Panhellenic Association of Midwater Fisheries, welcomed some elements but voiced reservations. “The fuel subsidy is not sufficient to cover the real burdens faced by fishing businesses, particularly after the turbulence caused by the war in Iran and the rise in operating expenses,” he said.
Bountoukos called the pufferfish pilot “a move in the right direction” but noted its geographical limits. “It does not cover all professionals facing similar problems,” he pointed out. He also urged caution on restrictions like the trawling ban in the Cyclades and limits in marine parks, arguing they should not be implemented without adequate scientific backing. “Comprehensive studies are needed both to protect the marine environment and to ensure the viability of professionals’ livelihoods,” he added.
The package comes as Greece’s fishing sector faces mounting challenges, from climate change to competition from illegal fishing. Similar pressures are visible across Europe — French fishermen recently gathered in Cherbourg to protest fuel costs and regulation. The EU’s broader push for marine conservation, including the expansion of protected areas, adds another layer of complexity.
For now, the Greek government is betting that a mix of targeted subsidies, regulatory reform, and invasive species control can keep the sector afloat. Whether the pufferfish scheme will prove scalable — and whether the broader package will satisfy a restive industry — remains to be seen.
