Sirens blaring and boats moored at the docks: in numerous Italian ports, fishing boats sat idle in protest of high diesel prices and European laws that reduce fishing days and increase corporate requirements. The protests began spontaneously among marinas in the Upper Adriatic and spread over Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Marche, and Molise, as far as Manfredonia and Termoli. According to fishermen, current fuel prices have made going to sea too expensive. Paola Marinucci, head of the Termoli shipowners' organization, describes a terrible season: following the biological closure, which ended on September 30th, actual fishing days tallied only six and a half. The government responded by providing a €10 million non-repayable grant, which constitutes 10% of the fuel expenses that were incurred from June to October 15th. Coldiretti Pesca considers this an important step for a fleet forced to reduce the number of trips at sea, but sailors are prepared to launch more forceful strikes if more action is not forthcoming.