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Fishermen furious as fuel bill plea is thrown out



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Published Date: 04 June 2008
By Angus Howarth
ANGRY fishermen yesterday complained of "a lack of political will" by Westminster after failing to secure immediate help to meet soaring fuel bills.
The criticism came after talks in London between Jonathan Shaw, the UK fisheries minister, and industry representatives.

As they met the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), dozens of protesters from Scotland, north-east En
gland, Cornwall and Northern Ireland gathered outside.

Later, the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) said its demand for short-term financial aid had been "flatly rejected" by Mr Shaw.

Bertie Armstrong, the SFF's chief executive, said: "This is a massive blow to our industry and comes against the background of French and Spanish boats, who have been given help by their government, fishing in the same waters for the same fish that we catch and delivering it into the same markets.

"It is not a case of resources not being available but more lack of political will on the part of the UK government."

The National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and the SFF say the impact of the fuel crisis on fishing vessels has gone "beyond critical" and that boats cannot operate viably at current fuel-price levels.

A Defra spokesman said: "We do not underestimate the difficulties many fishermen face

… Jonathan Shaw is working with fishermen to find solutions."





The full article contains 227 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 03 June 2008 8:20 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Sea fishing industry
 
1

Guga II,

Rockall 04/06/2008 01:55:06
Surely Scottish fishermen did not expect any help from the New Labour Sleaze and Corruption Party. They have been trying to destroy the fishing fleet for a long time now by selling it out to Europe, so why would they care if the European fishermen were being subsidised by their governments? They certainly don't intend to help here by reducing their rapacious fuel tax.

So, Scottish (and English) fishermen should remember, come the next general election, who it was that put them out of business.
2

Marian,

04/06/2008 08:20:46
An SNP amendment to the European Union (Amendment) Bill that would return responsibility for fisheries and marine conservation to national control, was defeated recently after a debate in the House of Commons. The amendment secured the cross-party backing of 175 MPs.

The UK Government agreed to the Lisbon Treaty without seeking any changes to the text which enshrines fisheries in the EU Reform Treaty as an ‘exclusive competence’. National control of fisheries is a ‘red line’ issue for the Scottish Government.

SNP Westminster leader, Angus Robertson MP, who is a member of the European Scrutiny Committee, said:

“Labour MPs have added insult to injury by voting against the restoration of national control, and fishing communities will be outraged.

“This was an opportunity to ditch the disastrous CFP, but, as usual, Labour failed to stand up for the national interest and safeguard the future of one of our oldest and greatest industries.

“First Gordon Brown failed to ensure that fisheries was a red line issue when the Lisbon Treaty was negotiated, and now Labour MPs have shown that the Westminster Government still views fishing as ‘expendable’ just as the Heath Government did in 1970."
3

Yo-Yo,

Edinburgh 04/06/2008 08:35:20
The fishermen always seem to think they are a special case. Everyone is having to bear the brunt of higher fuel costs. Hauliers have to buy normal white diesel where as fishermen use the cheaper red diesel.
If fishermen and hauliers were to run their companies on a sound financial footing (charging proper rates for there services) like Eddie Stobart (Transport) who you never hear complaining. Fishermen are always looking for handouts when we all know they are responsible for the poor state the industry is in due to over fishing or should I say greed.
4

Huntly loon,

Aberdeenshire 04/06/2008 09:09:40
Yo-yo You are showing total ignorance on hauliers versus fishermen. Hauliers are able to pass increased fuel costs on to their customers. Fish are sold by auction.
The French and Spanish governments are supporting their fishermen. Our UK government has washed its hands.It does not have the money. It would set a precedent. There was money for Northern Rock a private bank but nothing for a whole industry.

I guess you would like our fishing industry to disappear and have only French and Spanish fish in the North Sea. The Common Fisheries Policy is a farce. It is all about every country protecting its own. The Labour Government pretended that it was governing well for ten years based on infalted house prices and personal debt. Now that the credit train has hit the buffers, that fuel and food prices have rocketed, they have nothing to offer to meet the crisis. Gordon Brown was really a desperately bad chancellor. Darling is the poor fall guy.

There was nothing laid by for this rainy day. Brown claimed all the credit when times appeared rosy. Now he takes none of the blame. He really did believe his own propaganda that he had abolished boom and bust. How naive!
5

bill-alba,

fife 04/06/2008 09:17:46
If the fishermen want help from the British Govt they should take a leaf out of the lorry drivers handbook...blockade the forth, tay, thames, liverpool then they might actually get someone in govt paying attention to them.
6

Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 04/06/2008 10:38:41
Scrap fuel duty NOW.
7

SouthernSkye,

04/06/2008 11:22:16
#4 agreed,
The auction prices, I read recently, have not changed for some 20 years or so? Where-as costs have risen dramatically. Hope the fishermen(and women??) link up with Euro colleagues and try something a little more direct.
#3 needs to do a little research before rushing in.
8

David Ban,

04620 Vera 04/06/2008 12:29:26
I am not sure if I want to put my head above the parapet with this one, but convert wholly or partly to sail! I remember the vast fishing fleets from the Uists had sails on the trawlers, but perhaps it was more related to the fishing techniques than providing sailing power.

Of course it does not stop the subsidising of the foreign fleets by their governments.
Really we have to be in charge of our own country- we have everything to gain and little to lose!!
9

Saoghal Beag,

04/06/2008 13:59:18
8 David and didn't the landlubbers travel on horse and carriage while the boats took to sail?

 

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