Fishing vessels in several Italian Adriatic ports have remained alongside since October 21 in protest at diesel prices and European rules that operators say reduce fishing days.
Italy's Council of Ministers approved a decree-law on October 22 providing €10 million ($11.2 million) in non-repayable grants for fishing businesses. The grants cover 10 per cent of fuel-purchase expenditure incurred between June 1 and October 15, 2026.
Fuel accounts for more than 60 per cent of operating costs in some fishing operations, according to ANSA. The news agency estimated that a medium-sized trawler burning about 180,000 litres a year now spends €189,000 annually on fuel, up from €144,000.
The action began at Termoli in Molise, where the port's sole fuel distributor ran out of diesel. Road-haulage blockades have also prevented fresh-fish deliveries from Molise to Campania.
At Pescara, all 45 local trawlers were alongside on October 22, with fishing diesel at €1.17 per litre.
Doriano Camplone, president of a local professional fishing association, warned that fishermen were, "ready to move from a peaceful stoppage to more substantial strikes," if the government failed to respond.
Confcooperative Agroalimentare e Pesca said the grant money would arrive within 35 days of the measure's approval.
Italy had earlier allocated a separate €10 million fuel tax credit covering purchases from March to May. Fuel protests also blocked southern French fishing ports in September.
