Italy’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (Masaf) has approved a targeted fuel tax credit package, successfully distributing nearly 7 million euros to support domestic fishing fleets, according to official agency data.
Ministry Allocates Millions to Fishing Fleets
According to an official release published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry on September 22, 2026, the administration adopted directorial decree no. 493110 to distribute fuel relief funding. The financial package implements an earlier interministerial decree issued on May 22, 2026, which followed article 4 of decree-law no. 33 of March 18, 2026, converted with amendments by law no. 79 on May 13, 2026. Out of 2.122 total applications submitted by the July 20 deadline, the ministry admitted 1.937 requests, distributing a total of 6.994.671,92 euros in tax credits.
Maximum Aliquot Awarded to Approved Applicants
The available financial endowment of 10 milioni euros allowed authorities to fully satisfy the initial pool of approved beneficiaries and grant the maximum legal aliquot. According to Masaf, the approved companies received a tax credit equal to 20 percent of their expenditures for purchasing gasoil and gasoline during the designated reference period. Ministry officials worked through the summer months to complete the evaluations immediately following the July closing date, maintaining administrative continuity for the fishing sector.
Additional Verifications Underway for Pending Claims
While the initial wave of applications cleared administrative hurdles, the ministry flagged remaining requests for secondary review. According to Masaf data, administrators initiated a supplementary investigative procedure for the remaining 185 applications to verify that applicants meet all required statutory criteria. Once these secondary reviews conclude, the ministry plans to publish a subsequent list containing any additional enterprises deemed eligible for the fuel relief funds.
Government Commitment to the Fishing Industry
Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida emphasized the strategic importance of the maritime sector following the decree’s adoption. According to a statement released by Masaf, Minister Lollobrigida stated that the decree confirms the continuous support of the government toward the fishing world, which he described as a strategic sector for the national economy and identity. The relief measure is designed to calm the impact of high fuel costs and provide financial breathing room for thousands of workers across the Italian supply chain.
