Tensions flared late on Tuesday night, September 2, in the waters between Thasos and Samothraki in the northern Aegean, when Greek fishermen confronted their Turkish counterparts over fishing too close to Greek shores. What began as a protest quickly escalated, with reports of threats, insults—and even gunfire into the air.

Speaking to local news-outlet Voria, Giannis Manios, president of the Kavala Purse Seine Fishermen’s Association and vice president of the national body, said Turkish trawlers in recent days have been venturing as close as four to six nautical miles from Samothraki’s coast.

“Tonight, a large number of Turkish boats went out to fish again, and 20 of our vessels approached them to protest,” Manios said. “Our fishermen were met with curses, threats—even gunfire into the air.”

The standoff peaked around 10 p.m., with tensions running high on both sides. Greek crews filmed the incident and claim they alerted the authorities, but no officials arrived at the scene.

According to Manios, Turkish boats are larger, more modern, and increasingly bold in their incursions. “They come from the small port of Enez and fish ever closer to our territorial waters. We tried circling them to push them back, but instead they came straight at us,” he said.

After several minutes, the Greek vessels—mainly from Kavala, with others from Thessaloniki and Halkidiki—broke off and returned to the port of Keramoti in Kavala.
“We are heading back to Keramoti and will halt work, because this situation cannot continue,” Manios declared.

The incident comes during the anchovy season, when purse seine boats are particularly active in the Thracian Sea. It is not the first time Greek fishermen have raised alarms over the growing presence of Turkish fishing fleets in the area.