The price of diesel has affected the reduction of work for fishing vessels, while a new tax on radio communication is expected to make it even more difficult. The head of the Fishing union says that they have not been able to provide the employees’ salaries for a long time.

The significant increase in the price of oil has made the normal functioning of this sector almost impossible.

“We use at least 40 liters of diesel per hour. Oil has gone where it no longer holds, the price of fish is the same. All these boats do not go out to sea, only because of the price of oil”, declared Arben Kaja – the owner of a fishing boat – to Euronews Albania.

And as if the impasse created by the price of oil were not enough, a new tax on radio communication is expected to add even more to the fiscal burden on the sector.

“With the departure of the ships to the sea and the return of the crews, we are not able to secure the salaries of the employees. It’s been a while since an open gap has been created between the fishing fleet and the ministry from which we depend”, declares Klodian Kapiti, head of the fishing union.

“Another problem that has suddenly been created is a new tax that has been placed on the fishing fleet across the country. It amounts to 430 thousand lek every year for radio communication. This tax has never existed and does not exist in any country”, said Kapiti.

The approach of the tourist season significantly increases the demand for seafood products. In the conditions of the decrease in the amount of fish in the sea and the pronounced problems of the fishing sector, the market risks not meeting all the needs of the clientele for fresh fish in the coming months.