SCOTTISH fishermen's leaders are to meet Richard Lochhead, the rural affairs secretary, next month to discuss the impact of soaring fuel costs on the country's fishing fleet.
The cost of marine fuel has leapt to record levels in recent weeks, with some skippers having to pay almost 50p a litre to fuel their vessels.
Last month, a small number of twin-rigged trawlers remained in Fraserburgh harbour for almost a week
rather than put to sea in rough weather, claiming the fuel price-rise had made a trip to sea financially unviable.
It was revealed yesterday that Mr Lochhead is to meet representatives from across the Scottish fishing industry at the headquarters of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) in Aberdeen on 12 May.
A spokesman for the federation said: "The industry intends to make it clear the damage that is being done to a recently optimistic industry by the relentless rise in fuel costs and to discuss realistic ways ahead. The meeting should allow time for the Scottish Government to investigate possible solutions."
Bertie Armstrong, the chief executive of the SFF, stressed: "The world price of fuel is not set by this government and a fuel subsidy is neither possible nor demanded. However, a realistic package of survivability measures is achievable.
"We are asking for transparency over the kind of measures that our European commercial competitors in the French and Spanish fleets are receiving. If competition rules are being breached, then they must be challenged right now."
The full article contains 254 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
