Impressive Demonstration but Shaw Fails to Deliver
The two national fishing federations staged an impressive demonstration on 3rd June in support of the industry’s leaders as they met UK ministers to discuss the impact of rising fuel costs. The demonstration outside Defra headquarters in Smith Square, London, drew massive media coverage but failed to move ministers, who rejected a package of support based upon the EU de minimis.
The demonstration was supported by fishermen from Cornwall to Northumbria, from Scotland to Northern Ireland and France.
In the meeting the NFFO and SFF argued that:
- The current high cost of fuel is crippling the fishing industry.
- The solution used by most industries, placing a surcharge on their product, is not available to us because most fish is sold through the auction system. This makes the fishing industry exceptionally vulnerable to high fuel costs and demands a distinctive solution.
- The EU makes provision for this type of emergency through the de minimis, which allows member states to pay up to 30,000 euros per enterprise without invoking state aid rules or obtaining additional permission from Brussels.
- Ministers should demonstrate their faith in the future of their fishing industry, in the same way as the French and Spanish governments have supported theirs by paying the de minimis.
- We know that the de minimis will not solve all the problems of the fleets. But it would, for many vessels, provide a breathing space to begin to adjust to the era of high fuel costs.
What Now?
In light of the ministers’ blunt rejection of the federations’ urgent request the NFFO will take stock of the situation and gauge the industry’s appetite for further protest action. |
|
