Monday, 30th June 2008
Fishermen experience worse ever crisis
Dear Sir,
The Scotsman (Saturday 28th June) covered the important issue of the current dire state of our fishing industry. Our fishermen are experiencing their worst ever crisis with rising fuel costs, tougher quotas, reduced days at sea and dwindling fish stocks. Many can no longer afford to put to sea. Those that do so can only pay their crew around £100 per week, after they have paid for fuel and other overheads, driving hundreds out of the industry at a time when we should be looking for new, young recruits. We are witnessing the gradual extinction of an age-old industry. Aid needs to be given to the Scottish Fishermen now to avoid catastrophe.
The Council of Fisheries Ministers met in Luxembourg (25 June) and the current fuel crisis was high on their agenda. They agreed with a Commission proposal to provide aid to Member States who come forward with proposals for complete re-structuring of their fisheries sector. The Commission told the European Parliament's Fisheries Committee last week that this aid can be accessed immediately and that they are trying to ensure it will be on the basis of around 80% coming from Brussels with only 20% contribution from the Member States. On this basis there can be no excuse for the UK to refuse to access this generous package. The UK Fisheries Minister - Jonathan Shaw - must not leave our fishermen dangling in the wind while Spain, France and other EU Member States provide aid to their fleets.
Struan Stevenson MEP
