On Thursday and Friday, February 19th and 20th, the EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, will pay a working visit to Latvia to gain insight into Latvia’s fisheries and fish processing sectors.
Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze: “Intensive work is currently underway on shaping the Common Fisheries Policy for the next planning period 2028–2034. Therefore, it is very important to demonstrate to EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis in person how significant the fisheries sector is for Latvia in ensuring food supply, contributing to the economy and providing employment both in coastal areas and elsewhere. In the Baltic Sea region, we can be particularly proud of the skilful use of small fish species – herring and sprat – in the production of sought out for food products, which significantly distinguishes us from other countries where these fish are processed into fish meal. Concerning the future development of the sector, we are alarmed by the European Commission’s planned dramatic reduction of funding for fisheries in Latvia and other EU Member States. Funding is planned to be reduced by two-thirds, or 62%. We categorically cannot agree to this.”
On Thursday, February 19th, EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis, together with Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze, will meet with Latvian coastal fishermen in Bērzciems. The fishermen wish to discuss with the Commissioner the proportionality of various EU requirements and control measures, emphasising the irreplaceable role of small-scale coastal fisheries in employment and economic activity along Latvia’s maritime coast.
After meeting the fishermen in Bērzciems, the Commissioner will travel to Ventspils, where he will visit one of Latvia’s largest full-cycle fishing and fish processing companies, “Verģi”. Its fish products are appreciated not only in Latvia but also in 30 other countries to which “Verģi” exports its production. For its own processing needs, “Verģi” catches fish (herring and sprat) both in the Gulf of Riga and in the Baltic Sea.
At the end of the day in Ventspils, the Commissioner and the Minister will meet with Baltic Sea fishermen, who will inform them about the crucial role of EU support in the further development of the sector and the urgent need to maintain this support at an appropriate level also in the 2028–2034 planning period.
On Friday, February 20th, Costas Kadis will visit the company “Karavela” in Riga, one of the largest fish processing companies in Europe, with more than 140 years of historical experience in the production of canned fish and other products.