Italian victory for fishing in Brussels; no reduction for trawling in 2025

The EU Council of Agriculture Ministers has approved a decision to keep Italian trawlers from facing any reduction in fishing days throughout 2025. This decision, which is seen as a victory for Italy, Italy's Minister of Agriculture, Francesco Lolloobrigida, and the country's fishing associations, aims to balance environmental sustainability with economic needs of coastal communities. The quota for deep-sea shrimp has been reduced by 6%, but compensation measures have mitigated the impact significantly. The decision has also set a higher catch threshold for hake and addresses concerns about the impact of offshore wind turbines on fishing, calling for the relocation of wind farms away from fishing areas and the protection of electricity cables to prevent interfering with fishing activities. The article underscores the importance of striking a balance between environmental and socio-economic sustainability in fisheries, particularly in the Mediterranean, where there is a growing conflict between wind energy development and fishing interests.