Protesting their own government and Italian colleagues, several hundred Croatian fishermen have staged rallies in nine different ports.
Calling for the establishment of a Croatian economic zone and sovereignty of some 23,000 square kilometres of sea, the protesters accused their Agriculture and Fisheries ministry of allowing the Italians to “destroy resources and the future of the Adriatic Sea and the Croatian fishermen”, Croatian media reported.
They also demanded lower prices for their boat fuel and threatened to block ports unless these demands are met in two weeks.
Croatia is presently negotiating EU membership, and hopes to join the Union in two years.