Agreement was reached on most fishermen's requests at their meeting with Agriculture Minister Petar Cobankovic on Tuesday, but they gave him until the end of the month to comply with what was agreed, otherwise they would stage protests.
It has been agreed that the price of diesel fuel will remain the same and to find a way through a model of structural incentives as of March 15 to refund part of the fishermen's costs, Cobankovic said afterwards.
It has been agreed that incentives for oily fish will be paid around March 20, that market compensation for white fish and other organisms will be paid in early April, when all capital investment requests will be processed as well.
It has also been agreed that information on benefits, the fleet register and scientific studies will be published on the Agriculture Ministry's website.
The ministry will co-finance, in agreement with the Sea Ministry, the fee for unloading berths in all ports except domicile ones, where fishermen do not pay the fee anyway.
Cobankovic said he did not agree to the request for the replacement of state secretary Tonci Bozanic, adding he was doing a good job and enjoyed his support.
The president of the fisheries association at the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Miro Kucic, said the policy chapter regulating fisheries in Croatia's accession negotiations with the European Union could make life hard for the negotiators if it was not closed on time.
That's why it was important that today's meeting ended peacefully, said Kucic.
Asked why he did not come to a meeting with protesting farmers in Ferovac in Pozega-Slavonia County, Cobankovic said he was busy and that he did not promise he would come but try to.
The farmers which began the protest yesterday continued protesting today and announced further protests.
Today, farmers were also protesting in Bilogora-Bjelovar County.
In the evening, Cobankovic held a meeting with representatives of farmers' associations which are not protesting, reaching agreement to pay incentives for crops in the amount of HRK 1,950 per hectare.
He said the first part of the incentive, HRK 900, was already paid, while the second part would be paid by the end of April.
The meeting discussed how to unfreeze farmers' accounts, legalise agricultural facilities, farmland, capital investments, and the diesel fuel they use.
The meeting was constructive and we agreed on those topics, the minister said.
