At the Keratsini fish market, fishing professionals raised concerns over operating costs, unpaid subsidies and difficult conditions in border waters.
High fuel costs, insufficient financial support and the challenges faced by fishermen in border waters dominated Rena Dourou’s visit to the Keratsini fish market.
Dourou met with president Vangelis Arapakis, management representatives, fishing professionals and veteran fishermen, alongside members of SYRIZA–Progressive Alliance’s Piraeus regional organisation.
Fishermen described the pressure caused by fuel prices, saying that operating costs are now keeping fishing vessels tied up in port. They also warned that these expenses could be passed on to consumers through higher seafood prices.
Subsidies were another major concern. Those attending claimed that they were the only fishermen in Europe still awaiting their payments and accused the government of neglecting the sector. They also argued that continued support for aquaculture, which they associated with foreign corporate ownership, was undermining professional fishing.
The discussion also addressed working conditions in border waters. Fishermen reported incidents involving Turkish fishing vessels and the Turkish coastguard and alleged repeated violations by Turkey.
Dourou discussed measures needed to support coastal and professional fishing and outlined relevant initiatives undertaken by SYRIZA–Progressive Alliance.
One of the most striking moments came when the fishermen pointed to their moored boats and said: “These are our babies”, expressing their attachment to the vessels and their livelihood.
The visit ended with an informal gathering at the fish market’s small café, where those present marked Dourou’s birthday with an improvised dessert.
Accompanying her were Dimitris Petras, a member of the party’s Political Secretariat; Thrasyvoulos Stavridopoulos, coordinator of its Shipping Department and a Central Committee member; Despoina Touloumtzidou, deputy coordinator of its Piraeus regional organisation; Vasilis Inglis, coordinator of the Keratsini–Drapetsona branch; and Mitsos Karakostas, a member of the same branch’s coordinating committee.
