Greek fishermen hungry for a cause
Some exciting news from the Mediterranean... On Monday, after a day of demonstrations by Greek fishermen, against a government decision to allow trawling in near-shore waters, 19 fishermen started a hunger strike outside the ministry building in favour of sustainable fisheries and marine reserves!
As a result of the demonstration, the Greek Fisheries Minister had to cut short his attendance at yesterday's EU Council meeting and fly back to Greece. He arrived at his Ministry at 1 in the morning, accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and a national TV crew. The negotiations lasted until 4am, when he admitted that he was unwilling to revoke the decision on trawling but announced a reassessment of fisheries management as part of the development of a new strategy.
He offered to come out with a public statement and letter to the European Commission explaining that his earlier decision to allow trawlers in near shore waters is in fact only temporary and that he is inviting the fishermen to a meeting to decide on a new National Fisheries Strategy!
The coastal fishermen stopped the hunger strike and are hoping for a better deal in the meeting after Greek Easter (next 15 days). They are considering this a victory.
Amongst the group of demonstrating fishermen were some from the Corinth Gulf, which is where Greenpeace Greece has been campaigning for a marine reserve during the past 2 years (the Rainbow Warrior visited last year).
The Corinth fishermen brought a big banner asking the government to implement a Marine Reserve in the Gulf. The city of Corinth is also the home town of the EU's Commissioner for the Environment, so these waves are guaranteed to ripple through to the European Commission.
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