For a large, indirect victim of the floods that occurred in Thessaly, fishermen and fishmongers in Thessaloniki speak, explaining that although the checks carried out by the Region of Central Macedonia showed that there is no issue of contamination of the Thermaic Gulf, consumers have become alarmed and stopped to buy fish.
“We are in a very difficult situation. The people saw some images with the dead cow in Thermaikos and all that ended up in the sea, after the floods, and they are afraid to buy fish” emphasizes, speaking to the Athenian/Macedonian News Agency, Yannis Maritsas, president of the local fishing cooperative “Agia Friday”, in Nea Michaniona. “One mad cow cannot contaminate the whole of Thermaikos.
Thousands of tons of fish die here every day and are born but so much… The sea doesn’t get polluted like that!” characteristically says Mr. Maritsas. “The decrease in fishermen’s turnover is more than 50%, in a year that has less fish and surprisingly the prices are 25% to 30% lower than last year” he notes and adds: “Prices have decreased mainly in cod, flounder and the shrimp. To understand, the cod used to range from 10 to 11 euros and we are now selling to traders for 7 and 8 euros per kilo.”
Mr. Maritsas underlines that: “People don’t buy fish. It’s a matter of supply and demand at the fish ladder where the fish are sold. When he had a lot of fish, the price dropped. Now, due to the situation, and while he doesn’t have many fish, their price is very low”, with the president of the Northern Greece Fishmongers’ Association Yannis Therioudakis adding:
“The big, indirect victim was fishing, because people started – not intentionally or intentionally – started saying that the seas were polluted, that the fish were poisoned, and you understand that a very serious problem was created with this misinformation. The competent services took samples from all the seas and fishing areas and the results were satisfactory. The drop in sales is over 50% and the price reduction is over 30% to 40%. This has the effect of reducing by 50% the income of all those who are active in this area”.
Statistically, the Greek consumer trusts Greek production between 75% and 80%, in contrast to the European, who trusts his local production 35-40%, explains Mr. Theriodakis and explains that in the fish trade “we were at a good level and we need to get back to normal market rates.”
Finally, according to newsbeast, he emphasizes: “We are asking the state to support us financially in order to recover the loss. We are not asking to make a profit from this story, because now we are working and the expenses are running. We want to pay the salaries, insurance, oil and expenses. There is nothing left on the boat.”
#Thessaly #demand #fish #victim #floods
The Unfair Catch: Thessaly Floods Affect Fish Sales in Thessaloniki
The recent floods in Thessaly have had a devastating impact on the fishing industry in Thessaloniki, with consumers fearing contamination of the Thermaic Gulf and refraining from buying fish. Despite the Region of Central Macedonia’s assurance that the Gulf is safe, the sales of fish have plummeted, leaving fishermen and fishmongers in a precarious situation.
Speaking to the Athenian/Macedonian News Agency, Yannis Maritsas, president of the local fishing cooperative “Agia Friday” in Nea Michaniona, expressed his concerns about the situation. “We are in a very difficult situation. The people saw some images with the dead cow in Thermaikos and all that ended up in the sea, after the floods, and they are afraid to buy fish.” Maritsas emphasized that the contamination fears are unfounded, stating, “One mad cow cannot contaminate the whole of Thermaikos. Thousands of tons of fish die here every day and are born, but so much… The sea doesn’t get polluted like that!”
The impact on the fishing industry has been significant, with Maritsas noting that the decrease in fishermen’s turnover is more than 50%. Moreover, prices have decreased mainly in cod, flounder, and shrimp, with the cod price dropping from 10-11 euros per kilo to 7-8 euros per kilo. This decrease in price is a result of the supply and demand principle, as Maritsas explained, “People don’t buy fish. It’s a matter of supply and demand at the fish ladder where the fish are sold. When he had a lot of fish, the price dropped. Now, due to the situation, and while he doesn’t have many fish, their price is very low.”
The president of the Northern Greece Fishmongers’ Association, Yannis Therioudakis, corroborated Maritsas’ concerns, stating, “The big, indirect victim was fishing, because people started – not intentionally or intentionally – started saying that the seas were polluted, that the fish were poisoned, and you understand that a very serious problem was created with this misinformation.” Therioudakis emphasized that the competent services took samples from all the seas and fishing areas, and the results were satisfactory. However, the misinformation has led to a drop in sales of over 50% and a price reduction of over 30% to 40%.
The Greek consumer’s trust in the fishing industry has been shaken, with many opting for alternative protein sources. This lack of trust has led to a significant reduction in income for those active in the fishing industry, with Therioudakis stating, “This has the effect of reducing by 50% the income of all those who are active in this area.”
The situation highlights the importance of accurate information and communication during times of crisis. The dissemination of misinformation can have far-reaching consequences, affecting entire industries and communities. In this case, the fishing industry in Thessaloniki is suffering due to unfounded fears of contamination.
Keyword-rich phrases:
Thessaly floods
Fishing industry in Thessaloniki
Thermaic Gulf contamination
Fish sales decline
Greek consumer trust
Fish prices decrease
Supply and demand principle
Fishing cooperative
Fishmongers’ association
Meta description:
The recent floods in Thessaly have led to a decline in fish sales in Thessaloniki, as consumers fear contamination of the Thermaic Gulf. Despite assurances of safety, fishermen and fishmongers are struggling to make ends meet.
Header tags:
H1: The Unfair Catch: Thessaly Floods Affect Fish Sales in Thessaloniki
H2: Fears of Contamination: A Devastating Impact on the Fishing Industry
H2: Misinformation: The Root of the Problem
H2: The Economic Consequences: A Significant Reduction in Income
H2: The Importance of Accurate Information and Communication
Image optimization:
Use images of the Thermaic Gulf, fishing boats, and fishermen, with descriptive alt tags and captions.
