Scottish fishermen hit out at Westminster fuel-aid refusal

bitter disappointment as UK Fisheries Minister vetoes short-term help for industry

By David Perry

Published:

HELP US: Fishermen protest at the effects of rising fuel prices outside Defra in London

Furious Scottish fishermen voiced “bitter disappointment” last night at UK Fisheries Minister Jonathan Shaw’s refusal to consider immediate short-term aid to help the industry survive a crisis caused by soaring diesel prices.

Scottish Fishermen’s Federation chief executive Bertie Armstrong lashed out after a meeting in London between Mr Shaw, representatives of other fishing organisations and, using video conference facilities, Scottish Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead and his counterparts in Wales and Northern Ireland.

Fisheries ministers agreed to meet again next week to consider what action can be taken to help the industry weather the storm.

Mr Armstrong hit out at Mr Shaw for having “flatly rejected” pleas for financial short-term aid on the lines of assistance of up to 30,000 euros (£24,000) – the upper limit of state aid not required to comply with Brussels competition rules – available to French and Spanish boats.

A dozen protesters from Scotland joined around 100 fishermen from England, and Northern Ireland who gathered outside the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs during the meeting. Mr Armstrong said: “This is a massive blow to our industry and comes against the background of French and Spanish boats, who have been given financial help by their governments, fishing in the same waters for the same fish that we catch, and delivering it into the same markets.” He warned that “there is now the real danger that parts of the fishing fleet will be killed off”.

Federation president Ian Gatt accused Mr Shaw of being “very cool” towards their plight. He said it now costs £40,000 for fuel for a large trawler to put to sea for 10 days compared with £20,000 a year ago. He warned: “Feelings are running high.”

Vice-president James Brown said they had sought to impress on the minister he should not take the lack of French-style port protest blockades as indicative of a lack of militant feeling among Scottish fishermen.

He said the fishermen would decide how to press their campaign.

Mr Shaw said the UK Government did not have the financial resources to provide support for the industry.

Mr Lochhead said later he was disappointed the UK Government had no resources to support fishermen, “despite substantial extra North Sea revenues it is receiving as the result of soaring oil prices”. He said the Scottish Government was committed to helping the industry through the crisis.

Scottish Lib Dem fisheries spokesman Mike Rumbles attacked the Scottish Government for failing to limit the cost of fuel for the fleet.