Italy fishing sector secures CISOA extension and Mediterranean fishing agreements

The Italian fishing industry has secured significant regulatory and social protections following recent legislative and international developments. The government's budget law includes the extension of the CISOA social safety net to the fishing sector, providing structural income protection for workers facing challenges from climate change and market volatility. Additionally, a new agreement reached through the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (CGPM) establishes fishing opportunities for 2027.

This CGPM agreement aims to balance environmental sustainability with the socio-economic stability of Italian fleets in the Adriatic, Ionian, and Sicilian Channel. Key outcomes include a limited reduction in fishing days for the Adriatic, which was restricted to 3.15% compared to much higher initial proposals, and the removal of automatic fishing day reduction formulas. The agreement also includes the rescheduling of the Barbari area closure from seven to two months.

In Cetara, industry leaders and officials, including Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida and EU Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis, met to discuss the future of the bluefin tuna industry. Discussions focused on innovation, such as the use of sustainable sea farms and advanced monitoring technologies like stereocameras, to ensure transparency and combat market instability caused by falling prices and international competition.