Published 30 May 2008 NFFO

Fishermen will demonstrate at the Fisheries Ministry in London to highlight the lack of Government support on fuel prices.  The demonstration will be held at the DEFRA headquarters in Smith Square, London, on Tuesday 3^rd June 2008 from 8.00am.  The demonstration is timed to coincide with a meeting of fishing industry representatives and UK fisheries ministers to discuss the fuel issue.

At its recent meeting the NFFO Executive Committee decided to organise a fishing industry demonstration designed to bring home to UK ministers the need for urgent industry support against the background of rising fuel costs.

The demonstration will take place on the 3^rd June, 2008, outside DEFRA headquarters in Smith Square, London and is timed to coincide with a meeting between UK ministers and representatives of the NFFO and Scottish Fishermen's Federation.  The demonstration will begin at 8.00 am.

The purpose of the demonstration is to press the government for urgent short-term support in the form of the de minimis (this is the amount of money permissible under EU state aid rules that member states may pay in these circumstances, it amounts to €30,000 per enterprise).

We are willing to enter discussions with the government on a long-term rescue and restructure package but the priority is urgent provision of immediate financial support on the lines already available to French and Spanish fishermen.

It is our intention that this will be an effective, well ordered, demonstration that will attract maximum publicity to get our message across.  Banners and posters should be prominent.

The National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and the Scottish Fishermen's Federation have joined forces to impress on the ministers the urgency of providing short-term, temporary, aid.

"Fish is sold through the auction system, this makes fishing uniquely vulnerable to rising fuel prices.  This is why fishing needs support to survive as higher costs cannot simply be passed on to the consumer," said Barrie Deas, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations.

"It is a matter of the utmost urgency that ministers put together a survival package for the fishing industry."

"We know that the industry must adjust to the new era of high fuel costs but this must be achieved by an orderly transition; otherwise the fallout in terms of businesses, lives and communities will be horrendous."

"We are calling on the ministers to provide the de minimis support that is being made available in other member states, like Spain and France, along with other short term relief measures."

"The Federations are eager to begin discussions with government on a rescue and restructuring plan for the industry but are insistent on the need for immediate support to safeguard the future of the industry."

Notes

1.       Fuel costs have increased by 320% over the last five years and 40% since January 2008.

2.       The Fishing Federations have pressed for:

• - the de minimis allowable under EC state aid rules: €30,000 per enterprise over 3 years;
• - relief from Light Dues. UK fishermen are the only fishermen in the EU required to pay for the upkeep of lights;
• - relief for administrative costs like satellite monitoring equipment, electronic logbooks and survey costs.

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