The view of small boats painted blue and white as part of the traditional Greek landscape is slowly dying out as the number of young people entering the industry diminishes and the boats disappear.

The decline is also being felt across the whole Mediterranean and Black Sea regions as young people reject the idea of a career in small-scale fishing and view the profession as old-fashioned and unattractive. They are also increasingly reluctant to enter the profession due to difficult working conditions, economic uncertainty, rising costs, complex regulations and limited access to finance.

A recent research project found that almost half of small-scale fishermen (47%) are over 40 years old, while only 17% are under 25 years old. It also reported that when young people do enter the industry, they may struggle to stay long-term.

The report emphasises that the problem raises serious concerns about the long-term resilience of small coastal communities and opportunities for local young people.