"This benefits primarily Italians who will be able to continue the unimpeded devastation of the fish stock and jeopardise the livelihood of Croatian fishermen," Bozanic said at a news conference in Split, at which he spoke about a bill on sea fisheries, drawn up by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management.
"If the government allows foreign nationals to establish companies for economic fisheries in Croatian territorial waters, the powerful Italian fleet will transfer to our coast and Croatian fishermen will be destroyed or become a poorly paid workforce on Italian fishing boats," Bozanic said, adding that the bill was contrary to the Constitution.
Some 50 fishermen from Split County, who attended the news conference, joined Istria fishermen in their request for the replacement of the assistant minister of agriculture, forestry and water management, who they believe shares responsibility for the bill with the head of the Fisheries Directorate.