Fishermen in European tourist hotspot hang up their nets as Iran war leaves their jobs ‘completely unprofitable’

A fishing captain in Dubrovnik finds his livelihood imperilled, not by the weather or a lack of fish, but by the distant echoes of conflict in Iran.

Dinko Cvjetojevic stood on his boat, moored despite the clear skies and abundant catches, as soaring fuel costs rendered his work "completely unprofitable".

The war, thousands of miles to the east, has sent fuel prices spiralling, now consuming up to 90 per cent of his operating costs – double the proportion before the conflict disrupted the vital Strait of Hormuz oil export route.

"As you can see today, it’s a beautiful day, but the ships are moored," Mr Cvjetojevic told Reuters.

While he managed to stockpile some fuel, allowing one of his vessels to continue operating for now, the future looks bleak.

"I’m constantly trying to stay alive," he explained. "If it stays like this, then one more month we can work and then after that we can go swimming."

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This crisis threatens a small but crucial sector along Croatia’s Adriatic coast, which employs thousands and supplies fresh seafood to the region's bustling tourist industry.

Tourism, Croatia’s main economic engine, accounts for about one-fifth of gross domestic product when related activities are included, leaving a large part of the economy exposed if fuel prices remain high through the summer.

Cvjetojevic said his boats typically supply markets from Dubrovnik to Istria, with part of the catch exported to Italy and Slovenia. But he had now scaled down his operation and was only selling locally.

"Without state help, I see no solution," he said.

Prices in Croatia of so-called blue diesel, fuel solely used by farmers and fishermen, have increased by around 70 per cent in a month, from 0.80 euros ($0.94) per litre on March 8 to 1.36 euros ($1.59) per litre on 7 April, according to official data.

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Croatia’s government has temporarily capped the price rise but this did not fully avert the blow. Other countries in the region have been similarly affected despite introducing state subsidies or price limits.

Vedran Spehar, a senior official in Croatia’s Ministry of Economy, said this week on state-owned Croatian Radio that prices of blue diesel would have reached at least 2 euros ($2.34) per litre had it not been for government action, which also ensured there were no shortages.

A European Union member state since 2013, Croatia adopted the euro currency in 2023, a transition that coincided with price increases across many sectors. Previously, the economic fallout from the war in Ukraine had pushed up energy and food prices even before the start of the Iran war.

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