Speaking at a news conference in Split, union leader Petar Baranovic called the bill "monstrous", claiming that it made possible for foreign nationals to enjoy privileges in economic fisheries in the Croatian sea.
The bill especially favours the powerful Italian fleet, which Baranovic said had already plundered the western Adriatic, and would continue plundering its eastern part belonging to Croatia.
"There is no legal act of the European Union that would oblige Croatia to allow foreigners to exploit the Croatian Adriatic," he said.
The commission in charge of drawing up the sea fisheries bill held a meeting at the Split County Chamber today. Assistant Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Minister Ivan Katavic introduced the bill, saying that the fishermen had misunderstood a part of the bill, which he said provided for fishing privileges and the right to establish companies in Croatia only for legal and natural persons holding Croatian citizenship.
The bill must be forwarded into urgent procedure because it must be adjusted to EU standards, he said, which the fishermen opposed, calling on him to resign over the bill.