Programme: Science and Education for Smart Growth

As a result of the military actions in Ukraine, the prices of energy carriers and fuels have risen sharply, which directly reflects on the cost price of the fish products produced. In addition, a number of events occurred in 2023 that reflected on the company's fishing activities, as follows:

1. A dam wall of the huge Nova Kakhovka dam in Ukraine was blown up, and the tidal wave on its way through the Dnieper river carried many pollutants into the Black Sea - fertilizers, preparations, household and industrial waste/water. A number of articles and posts appeared on social networks urging consumers not to consume Black Sea products due to the presence of contamination with pathogens and heavy metals. As a result of these fears among consumers, there was a sharp decrease in sales.
2. In addition, in the Black Sea, the tidal wave from the dam washed away/broke war mines located along the entire length of the Kherson River, posing a threat to shipping.
3. A number of navigation reports were received from Naval Headquarters about the danger of floating mines. A drone with ammunition attached to it was blown up and fell.
4. A part of the Black Sea, close to the Bulgarian water area, was closed to shipping, due to exercises and military shootings of the Russian Federation.
5. Cessation of the grain deal and patrolling of the Russian ship Vasiliy Bykov on 13.08.2023, which fired a warning shot and inspected a civilian ship on board with a landing party.
6. A ship of the Black Sea Sunrise Association caught ammunition while fishing.

In the pre-war years (since 2019), RK Lavrak was active, going out to sea almost daily, and during the period of the ban it caught other types of fish other than turbot. In view of the above, the applicant company was forced to limit going out to sea, due to factors posing a danger to the crew and the fishing vessel, as a result of the hostilities.