South West Fishermen Call for Fuel Help as £22,000 Trips Bite
South West fishermen call for government support as red diesel costs climb since the start of the US-Iran war. One Newlyn crew member says a single trip cost £22,000 in fuel, while MPs warn rivals in Europe benefit from fuel subsidies.
South West fishermen call for greater government support as the cost of red diesel, the tax-reduced fuel used by fishing boats, has spiralled since the start of the US-Iran war. One trip on a Newlyn boat cost £22,000 in fuel, according to a crew member.
Many European fishing boats receive fuel subsidies, and British skippers say that leaves them at a disadvantage on the same fishing grounds.
What fishermen say
Paul Corin, a mate on the Enterprise in Newlyn, said the latest trip had cost £22,000 in fuel. Crews are paid a share of the profit, so higher costs cut everyone's earnings.
"Everybody's wages go down because you get a share of the profit so everyone in the crew loses money," he said.
He called the competition with European boats "not a level playing field". In his words: "They have better quota, more quota in our areas and cheaper fuel to fish the same grounds."
Pressure on ministers
Noah Law, Labour MP for St Austell and Newquay, told Parliament this week that fuel costs were "putting our fleets at a significant competitive disadvantage and all too often rendering it uneconomical to leave port."
Caroline Voaden, Liberal Democrat MP for Totnes, described the situation as "critical" for the inshore fleet and smaller boats. She said: "There isn't going to be a fishing industry left if they don't help them."
Chris Ranford, chief executive of the Cornwall Fish Producers' Organisation, wants ministers to press the UK's case. "What we need is our ministers to really go into bat for the UK, we have to come to an agreement with the EU on setting some catch limits," he said.
Government response
Fishing minister Stephen Morgan told Parliament he recognised "the genuine hardship" high fuel prices were causing. He also acknowledged concerns about competition from EU boats that benefit from subsidies.
He pointed to existing help: "There is support via the existing tax system, and we have recently announced funding for new, more efficient engines and gearboxes."
Morgan said his aim in the negotiation and the upcoming summit was "to protect the UK interest". The fishing industry has raised fuel costs repeatedly, with fishermen seeking urgent help in September and warning in April that going to sea could become too expensive.
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