For over 50 years, Evgenia and Georgios Floris have made their living fishing off the Greek island of Chios. But as overfishing depletes the Mediterranean’s once-bountiful waters, their way of life is becoming unsustainable. In 2020, the EU reported that 93% of the region’s fish stocks had been overfished, with trawlers and other industrial operations taking the largest share of blame. Species have vanished and the remaining fish are getting smaller, making it harder and harder for Evgenia and Georgios to earn a living.
Yet despite the challenges, the couple, now 69 and 78 years old, continue to cast their nets. For them, the sea is their life and their livelihood. But they know that the end of their tradition is drawing near. With virtually no state controls or support, their story is a microcosm of the struggles faced by small-scale fishers around the world. This short documentary follows their daily routines and highlights the urgent need for sustainable and equitable practices in the fishing industry.
