The Sicilian Fishing Industry

Foreign Fishery Developments scarcity of fish in their own coastal wa ters, the Sicilians have fIshed mainly in the channel between Sicily and Libya and Tunisia. But lately this has led to serious diplomatic strains (see section on Problems). The Sicilian Coastal tuna fishing, formerly a virtual Fishing Industry Sicilian monopoly, has declined drasti cally over about the last 20 years. Most of the tuna catch nowadays is taken at sea by mainland (principally Neapolitan) fishermen using "flying nets" and fast, Introduction Trapani, Sciacca. Porto Empedocle. radar- and sonar-equipped boats, Messina, and Siracusa. Consumption and Marketing The fishing industry. an important Fishing Fleet segment of the Sicilian economy, is now Italian Government statistics (lSTAT) making special efforts to modernize and The Sicilian fIshing fleet is Italy's larg place Sicily's annual catch, including expand to take advantage of high poten est, representing one- fourth of the Italian shellfish and mollusks, at between 45,000 tial profits resulting from increasing de total. It consists of 1,005 trawlers with a and 50,000 metric tons (t), but Palermo mand and high fish prices. But the in total gross tonnage of 53,675, and 4,864 Regional Government officials say the dustry faces serious problems, including small motor and sail boats. But much of true figure is much higher-at least increasing obsolescence of the fleet, the fleet is obsolete and poorly equipped. 70,000-80,000 t. Sicily also imports be inefficient marketing facilities, fish de Even many of the larger trawlers are tween 5,000 and 7,000 t of fIsh annually, pletion in local waters, and disputes with unable to undertake long voyages or mainly from South Korea, Spain, the Libya, Tunisia, and Malta over fishing engage in deepwater fishing. Moreover, U.S.S.R., and the United States. Sicilians rights in areas of the Mediterranean those there are no factory ships to process and harvest a wide range of fish, including nations claim as territorial waters. refrigerate the catch. In recent years, swordfIsh, shrimp, anchovies, sardines, The Sicilian tuna fIsh canning and because of these handicaps and the and mackerel. preserving industry, which in the middle 1960's was doing fairly well, has gradually declined. However, in recent years, a number of shrimp processing plants have been established. Improved technology and marketing techniques are being introduced, and the Sicilian Regional Government, which Mediterranean is highly sensitive to the industry's prob lems, recently enacted legislation de signed to stimulate and aid the fIshing industry. Economic Role Sea Sicily's 300 billion lire (US$385 mil lion) fIshing industry plays a significant role in the island's economy. The net ... income derived from commercial fIshing alone (which in 1977 represented a quar ter of Italy's total net income from this ~NI<'IA sector) nearly doubled in 5 years (68 billion lire in 1977 vs. 36 billion lire in 1973). Fishing and related fIelds provide one of the main sources of livelihood for the island's coastal inhabitants, employing some 80,000 persons. Mazara del Vallo is the leading Sicilian fishing center. Other important centers are Palermo, 24 Marine Fisheries Review As the Sicilian fleet has not been able ters because owners considered the po period 1980-82. Financial incentives (up to meet the rising demand for fish, local tential rewards were worth the risk. But to 80 percent for private operators) are dealers are having to look more and this has caused considerable friction. being offered for the construction of more to foreign sources. and to this end Over the past 5 years. Tunisian. Libyan, trawlers of between 30 and 200 tons. have lately begun acquiring more freez and Algerian gunboats have seized 104 provided owners demolish old vessels of ing facilities and refrigerator trucks. The Sicilian trawlers and detained their crews a total capacity of at least 80 percent of Palermo fish market. Sicily's largest, is until payment of stiff fines. In one inci the new vessel's tonnage. Other incen also expanding and modernizing its dent in July J980, the Tunisians actually tives are available for alterations and wholesale distribution facilities and in fired on the Sicilians, killing one Mazara repairs on existing vessels. stalling new refrigeration and conserva fisherman. More recently, the Libyans The new law should be an overall plus tion equipment. detained 12 Sicilian crewmen for 7 for the Sicilian fIshing industry, but it is months and released them only after the questionable whether it can do much to Fish Processing Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs inter promote early settlement of the problems Over the last 15 years changes in vened on their behalf. In the fall of 1980 with Tunisia and Libya. In fact. some supply and demand, greater selectivity Mazara fishermen kept their fleet in port local observers (including the State Com by the public. and improved technology for a month to protest the detention of missioner for Sicily, Giorgio Brancata) brought major transformations in the fIshermen and call the attention of Italian believe the law could even complicate Sicilian fish processing industry. With authorities to their plight. things for the National Government in the decline of the tuna catch in coastal In 1980. Malta created a new problem Rome and the EEC (which is now the waters. the number of tuna canneries in for Siracusa and Ragusa fishermen when competent authority to conduct such Sicily dropped from 12 in the 1960's to it abruptly extended its offshore juris negotiations for all Member States), in only 2 at present. Meanwhile, efforts diction to 25 miles. The deterioration in that expansion and modernization of the have been directed toward the develop relations with nearby Mediterranean fleet would probably result in Sicilian ment ofother processing activities. most states over fishing issues and the slight fIshing outside their own waters-and importantly shrimp freezing, mainly in chance of any resolution of these prob getting into trouble- to an even greater Mazara del Vallo where a dozen plants lems in the near term accounts for a extent than has been the case up to now. are now operating. The largest, Italgel, certain pessimism voiced by fishing Moreover, the Tunisians have indicated was built in 1977 by the Sicilian Industrial spokesmen in Mazara del Vallo in recent that they are interested only in a com Promotion Agency (ESP!). months. The risks and costs of fishing as prehensive agreement under which, in usual in North Africa waters are on the exchange for granting fishing rights, they Problems rIse. would be allowed to sell more of their Although the Sicilian fishing industry agricultural products, such as olive oil Prospects continues to be profitable, owing to high and almonds, in Western Europe. They retail prices and strong demand for fish, The Sicilian Government, in cooper are also unhappy about the oil drilling a number of serious and persistent prob ation with the fishing industry. has de being conducted by ENI, the Italian lems cloud its future. The depletion of vised a comprehensive program to reor Hydrocarbon Agency, on behalf of the Sicily's coastal fish resources from over ganize and further expand the sector. It Libyan government in waters contested fishing and increasing industrial pollu calls for promotional legislation, devel by Libya and Tunisia, and this could tion, while the subject of increasing opment of aquaculture, and efforts to further complicate prospects for a new public attention and concern, continues. find new fishing grounds and to resolve agreement. And the ever-rising cost of diesel fuel is the disputes with Tunisia and Libya in a The outlook with Libya does not ap a growing economic burden to boat way that would permit the Sicilians to pear much better. The Libyan govern operators, who report fuel now repre regain access to the rich fishing grounds ment has long pressed for joint venture sents up to 50 percent of operating costs. off their coasts. arrangements with Italian fIrms under Fishermen are also worried and angry As a fIrst step, in November 1980 the which the Libyans would share in the about the growth of "sea resources na Sicilian Regional Assembly enacted catch and the profits, but the Sicilians tionalism" in the Mediterranean, which legislation providing for the establish have been hesitant to enter any agree limits their access to choice fishing areas. ment of aquaculture projects in coastal ment that would leave them as minority For years, under a 1963 agreement be waters, subsidies for modernization of partners. Such arrangements, however, tween Italy and Tunisia, Sicilian boats the fishing fleet, and the application of could well turn out to be the only means were permitted to fish undisturbed in advanced technology in the processing by which Italian fIshermen can regain specified areas near the Tunisian coast. industry. The law, which was officially access to areas now off limits to them. In But the agreement expired 19 June 1980, promulgated on 12 January 1980, also an interview in Palermo on 22 March and the Tunisians had thus far declined encourages the formation of fIshermen's 1980, Italian Foreign Minister Ruffini to renew or extend it. Nonetheless, many cooperatives. An initial allocation of 75 urged Sicilians to consider establishing Sicilian boats continued to fish in the billion lire (about US$9.5 million) was joint ventures with Libya. One such relatively rich Tunisian and Libyan wa- appropriated for the program for the agreement was reached in January 1980 March 1()82. 4401 25 with Egypt which allows seven Mazara new Sicilian Regional Government's may lie in developing additional nsh boats to lJsh in the Red and Mediterra fishing law.

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