German fishery has been caught in an escalating economic squeeze as surging marine fuel costs, driven by ongoing geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East and energy market volatility, threaten to bankrupt fleets.
As the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran continues, the global energy market is going through wild fluctuation, influencing various industries, including fishery.
Hamburg, an important port city in Germany, is also seeing its fishery and seafood production affected due to the cost hike in diesel, transportation and cold chain operation.
Fuel cost takes a big part of fishery production. For fishing boats which need to work offshore for a long time, higher fuel price means more costs in each voyage.
"The prices of raw materials have been rising these days. For example, I used to spend 50 euros for gas every day, but now it costs me 100 euros. The impact of the conflict is everywhere, even on fishermen, as they will need gas to go fishing. In the end, the cost of products is up. That's the case and it is not good. War is the worst thing that human can create," said a local fisherman.
Meanwhile, the operation of cold chain storage and logistics is also facing pressure from the higher fuel prices, as seafood has to be delivered to other places in a cold temperature. From equipment to transportation, costs are piling up.
"We're definitely feeling the impacts of the rising cost, from procurement, to fueling our vehicles, and of course, the labor cost. Employees think their living cost has increased and they wish to have higher wages. So, whether on the procurement side or facing customers, we have truly felt the impacts," said another local fisherman.
Some local vendors worry that the climbing energy cost will squeeze their profit margins if the conflict continues, which will make their business even more struggling.
German fishery caught in escalating economic squeeze as marine fuel costs threaten to bankrupt fleets
The 2026 Qixi Festival Gala, produced by China Media Group (CMG), got underway at 20:00 Beijing Time on Wednesday, marking the annual celebration of one of China's oldest and most cherished traditional festivals.
The Qixi Festival, also referred to as the Chinese Valentine's Day, falls on the seventh day of the seventh month on the Chinese lunar calendar. It dates back more than 2,000 years and was inscribed on China's national intangible cultural heritage list in 2006.
The festival's enduring romantic association stems from the legends of the cowherd Niulang and the weaver girl Zhinyu, star-crossed lovers separated by the Milky Way who are permitted to meet only once a year when a flock of magpies forms a bridge across the heavens.
In ancient China, young women celebrate the festival by praying to Zhinyu for clever hands and domestic talents. Today, couples usually spend the day by exchanging gifts and many partners choose this auspicious date to register their marriages or hold collective traditional weddings.
This year's gala centered on the motif of a bridge, linking ancient myth with contemporary life.
A travelogue performance themed around the mythological bridge ran through the entire event, which featured songs, dances, traditional operas and ballet.
A highlight of the gala was a micro-film which explores shared Qixi customs between people from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.
Among the evening's touching highlights was a short film featuring the enduring romance of 88-year-old Chinese radar technology expert Ben De, recipient of China's 2026 State Preeminent Science and Technology Award, and his wife. The award is the nation's highest honor for scientific and technological achievement.
This year's gala centered on co-creation, featuring segments with real couples from across the country to jointly celebrate the millennia-old traditions through contemporary expressions of love.
CMG airs special TV gala to celebrate China's 2,000-year-old love festival
