Rural Development and Foods Minister Makis Voridis raised the issue of Turkish fishing vessels trespassing on Greek waters in the Aegean Sea. Turkish fisherman are after sea bream in the area, and therefore, we call this issue of Greek-Turkish conflict the “Tsipoua War – the Sea Beam War.
Voridis raised the issue during a video conference held by EU agriculture and fisheries ministers on Monday to discuss the bloc’s new common agricultural policy (CAP) for 2021-2027.
“The uncontrolled fishing activity of Turkish fishermen who are not subject to the same restrictive rules imposed on European fishing fleets, and who are active in both the Aegean and in the eastern Mediterranean, undermine the sustainability of fish stocks in the region,” the Minister said in a statement.
He urged the European Commission to address the issue in relevant international forums, such as the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), and to also point up the matter in bilateral contacts between the EU and Turkey concerning its respect for International Law and Turkey’s overall commitments to the European Union.
The minister called for the increased patrol presence of the European Fisheries Control Agency’s (EFCA) vessels in the region.
Greece, don’t expect any help from the EU. They think it’s totally acceptable for their countries to fish in other countries waters. Ask the UK what their stance on that is ?