TEHRAN, Iran, Feb.19
Trend:
Enhancing the engines of Iranian fishing vessels would put more pressure on the marine resources and reserves, Iranian Deputy Minister of Agriculture Jihad and Head of Iranian Fisheries Organization Nabiollah Khoun Mirzaei said, Trend reports via Mehr news agency.
He went on to explain the reason for the fisheries organization's opposition to the enhancement of vessel engines.
Mirzaei said that this move will lead to endangering the livelihood of the fish.
At the same time, he refused to comment on the allocation of gasoline quotas for fishing boats and its impact on fuel smuggling.
Since mid-November, the fuel price hikes in Iran have had severe impacts on various segments of Iran’s population. The government initially announced that it pursues to aid low-income and poor people.
However, the rationing and rising gas prices by 200 percent left the most negative effects on deprived citizens. Despite officials’ promises to offer fuel ration for fishermen, they did not receive any quota. This put the fishing sector on the brink of collapse.
After raising the gasoline prices in November 2019, Iranian fishermen in coastal cities demanded the government to assign gasoline quota for fishing boats. At the time, authorities were compelled to give promises to outraged people to ease public anger.
A month later however, it was revealed that the gasoline for fishermen is sold at the same price, without discounts.