Athens, Greece. Greece on Friday called on the European Union to intervene over what it said was unlawful fishing and violations of maritime law by Turkish fishermen in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Request raised in Athens meeting
Shipping Minister Vasilis Kikilias raised the issue in a meeting with the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, on Friday in Athens.
“I’ve raised with the Commissioner a major issue for Greece regarding our fishermen and our fisheries and the provocative behaviour of our Turkish neighbours with regards to the unlawful fishing, the non-respect of the law of the sea, and the disputing of our sovereign rights,” Kikilias said.
“We ask the European Union to intervene,” he said, adding that Greek sea borders were also Europe’s borders.
Long-running maritime disputes
NATO allies and neighbours Greece and Turkey have been at odds for decades over where their continental shelves end and over maritime jurisdiction in the Aegean Sea, including fishing.
Greece has designated restricted fishing areas in the Aegean Sea, some of which have been challenged by Turkey as being out of the country’s jurisdiction. Athens last year protested against a Turkish maritime spatial plan that designated zones for fishing and other activities in the Aegean Sea.
EU Commission position and enforcement
The EU Commission said last year that coastal states have the primary responsibility of enforcement, while supporting Greece with patrols by the European Fisheries Control Agency, satellite imagery and inspection.
Turkey response and ongoing talks
Turkish officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Despite their disputes, the countries have regularly held talks to explore whether they can start discussions aimed at demarcating maritime zones.
How should the European Union respond to Greece’s request for intervention in the fishing dispute?