Livestock farmers occupied the commercial port of Mytilene on Thursday afternoon, blocking trucks carrying food and other perishable goods from entering.

Shortages of basic items on supermarket shelves are now evident after three days in which trucks have been unable to unload from ships.

At 6pm, the ferry "Nisos Samos", operating on the Mytilene-Chios-Piraeus route, departed from the passenger port of Mytilene; it was not permitted to carry trucks, only passengers and private cars.

According to the farmers, both ports in Mytilene will remain under occupation, preventing trucks from disembarking until noon on Friday.

They say the future of their protest will depend on the response they receive during a meeting with the Minister of Rural Development Margaritis Schinas, in Athens on Friday morning.