European Fisheries Commission visits Italian ports to assess industry challenges

A delegation from the European Parliament's Committee on Fisheries, led by Isabelle Le Callennec, conducted a mission across Italy to assess the challenges facing the fishing sector. The delegation visited Ancona, a major Italian fishing hub, to meet with local operators and officials, including Mayor Daniele Silvetti. Discussions in Ancona focused on the health of marine species, such as sardines and mussels, and the impacts of climate change and mucilage on the local maritime economy.

The mission also included a visit to Goro to observe the impact of the blue crab invasion, which has devastated local clam populations. During this visit, the Italian government announced a 7 million euro tax credit to assist fishing businesses with rising fuel costs. The European representatives examined local processing facilities, such as the Copego plant, to understand the resilience and economic struggles of communities heavily dependent on fishing.