Advertisement

Updated April 5th, 2020 at 14:54 IST

Italian fishermen limit haul as demand plunges

A team of fishermen haul up their nets and sort through a pile of squirming fish spread out across the deck.

Italian fishermen limit haul as demand plunges
| Image:self
Advertisement

A team of fishermen haul up their nets and sort through a pile of squirming fish spread out across the deck.

After a night of trawling for fish off the coast of Italy, they are heading home, a pod of dolphins cruising along behind and seagulls crying overhead.

They have spent hours far from the fear of the coronavirus pandemic, but they are still feeling its effects.

As they approach the pier in the Fiumicino fishing port near Rome, the fishermen put on their face masks before meeting the sellers from the nearby auction house.

Since Italy's government declared a nationwide lockdown on March 9, restaurants and cafés have been closed and people can leave their homes only for trips to the supermarket or pharmacy.

As a result, demand for fish has dropped dramatically.

Pasquale Di Bartolomeo normally takes his fishing trawler, Marianna, out five nights a week.

Now he says there is no point, he could not sell the fish.

They now go out three nights.

The pier is normally packed with people, but these days just a few elderly fishermen sit around mending their nets.

At the nearby Silver Fish auction house, buyers in face masks and gloves sit on the cement blocks keeping safe distance between them as they decide which fish to buy.

Auctioneer Giovanni Stinto says the demand for fish has dropped significantly since the beginning of the quarantine.

They used to sell 12 tons of fish a week, but now it is down to 8.

 

Advertisement

Published April 5th, 2020 at 14:54 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo