The fish market, where fishermen sell their catch to dealers, is owned by the Flemish government and operated by a private company, EVO, together with the autonomous municipal company AGHO. Both received start-up capital from the Flemish government totalling over €10 million. They also benefitted from interestfree loan guarantees worth €4.3 million and free use of land and buildings belonging to the Flemish Region.

Now the EU has given EVO and AVGO four months in which to repay “all unjustified aid” – without specifying exactly how much that is. Within two months, the management of the market will have to open their books for inspection by the European Commission, when exact figures should emerge.

The Ostend vismijn is where fishermen sell their catches to dealers. Typically, sales take place in a Dutch auction, where the auctioneer starts with a high price and lowers the price until a sale is made. The vismijn also contains facilities for cleaning and storing fish. Similar facilities exist at Zeebrugge and Nieuwpoort.