The fishing industry is under threat as fuel prices continue to sky rocket.
Westcountry
trawlers say the price of red diesel is so high that they are barely
breaking even. And the spring-summer lull could tip the balance for
some trawler businesses.
Jim Portus, chief executive of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, said: "The situation really is very serious.
"The business has been very resilient up until now, but simply because fishermen have made the necessary money out of the fish.
"But
the value and the amount caught tends to drop off as we go from spring
into summer and these, combined with the ongoing increases in the price
of diesel fuel, mean that many will not be able to continue."
In
November last year, French fishermen were told they would receive a
fuel subsidy to help with the increase cost of red diesel.
It
means that, while over the channel they pay just 20p to 30p a litre,
their British counterparts are left paying the full price of in excess
of 50p.
Mr Portus said: "I have never supported the idea of
subsidies, but when it is over something like the price of fuel, which
is out of the hands of the fishermen, I believe there might be a good
reason to consider them."
The new fish docks are due to open in
Appledore in September, but if the predictions are accurate and the
fishermen stop catching the fish, they could be redundant.
Steven
Taylor, director of Bideford Trawlers, said: "We are barely breaking
even at the moment. Even if I make a 10 per cent profit, once we've
paid for the fuel I have nothing.
"We cannot compete with France
or Spain because their fuel is much cheaper. We thought the end of the
fishing industry would be because of lack of quota - never in my
wildest dreams did I imagine that the industry would stop because of
the price of fuel."
He said he knew of people who were having to cut back already, with one person cancelling a new boat they had ordered.
Things
are not any better on the south coast, where in Brixham boats have to
work the first three days of the week just to meet fuel costs.
Rick
Smith, chairman and managing director of Brixham trawler agents, said:
"A large beam trawler travelling out for seven days will make nothing
in the first half of the week.
"There is a very real problem and it is only a matter of time before trawlers stop going out altogether.
"If that happens, then the only fish you will be able to get will be from the likes of France and it will be sold at a premium."
And
it won't just be the fishing business that loses out. Newlyn
harbourmaster Andrew Munson warned: "This is something that will very
seriously affect the harbour's income.
If the fish is not being landed then the harbour will lose income. It will affect the viability of the port and merchants."
article copyritht THE CORNISHMAN
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