Greek Parliament committee approves Fishing Code reform bill

A parliamentary committee in Greece has approved a new bill aimed at regulating the fisheries sector and amending the Fishing Code in its first reading. The legislation, proposed by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, represents the first major legislative intervention in the sector in 56 years. Deputy Minister Athanasios Kavvathas defended the bill, stating it provides deep reformative cuts to modernize the code and resolve long-standing issues.

The bill faced significant opposition. While New Democracy MPs supported the principle of the bill, the Communist Party (KKE) voted against it, and other opposition parties, including PASOK and SYRIZA, reserved judgment until the plenary session. Critics described the bill as fragmented and ineffective, arguing it fails to address the accumulated problems of fishermen and lacks a comprehensive national plan.

A major point of contention involves a provision to abolish the use of the 'vitzotrata' (a fishing tool). Representatives of small and medium-scale fisheries have criticized this move, claiming it removes a vital survival tool for hundreds of professionals without sufficient justification or support measures.