New Delhi, April 11 -- As the sun sets over the Adriatic Sea, Marijan Jakopovic prepares his boat and nets to sail out as he has done for the past 30 years. But the 55-year-old fisherman from Croatia says times have never been so tough for many in his line of work.

Rising prices of fuel driven by the war in Iran are taking their toll on Croatia's fishing industry, adding to a myriad of existing problems, from limited stocks and fishing restrictions, to widespread imports of frozen seafood.

Key providers of fresh fish during Croatia's summer tourism season, the fishermen are warning that if the ceasefire in Iran does not hold and fuel prices surge again, things could become unbearable.

"This is turning into an almost hopeless situation,...