Jonathan Shaw...uncompromising

"BITTERLY disappointed" fishing industry leaders today left empty-handed from a meeting with UK fisheries minister Jonathan Shaw to discuss the fuel crisis facing fishermen.

Both the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and the Scottish Fishermen's Federation met Mr Shaw in London at a session where ministers from the devolved administrations were linked electronically to the session.

But later Bertie Armstrong, the chief executive of the Scottish federation said: "There has been nothing offered at all today and both federations are bitterly disappointed at the outcome."

Mr Armstrong said that Mr Shaw had given a firm and uncompromising thumbs down to de minimus aid on a UK basis for the fishing industry.

Mr Armstrong said that despite the competitive advantage this facility already gave French and Spanish fishermen, Mr Shaw's response to the the request from the UK federations was dismissive.

"He told us there was no resource for it and that anyway, it would not work."

But on the resource argument Mr Armstrong said it was more a matter of political will opposing the "vigorous" arguments in favour of de minimus aid put forward by the federations.

Basically, Mr Armstrong said, they had gone to the London meeting seeking survival aid, but had come away with nothing.

It was possible for Scotland's administration to give de minimus assistance on its own and the new Scottish fuel task force was pressing for a form of this assistance.

However, it was clear there was no willingness to apply this kind of assistance on a UK basis, something which would ensure a level playing field through the UK.

"This was a pretty disappointing meeting with a bitterly disappointing outcome," Mr Armstrong added.

Later Scottish Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead, who took part in the meeting via video link said:

"We are disappointed that the UK Government indicated that it has no budget available at this time to support fishing fleets across the UK despite the substantial extra North Sea revenues it is receiving as the result of soaring oil prices.

"However, we have secured agreement from the UK Government and devolved administrations to meet again to further explore this issue and those others raised by the industry.

"In the meantime, I am looking forward to a pre-arranged meeting with the industry in Scotland including James Brown, chair of the Fuel Taskforce in Scotland, later this week to receive feedback from the first meeting of the Fuel Taskforce."

" Our fishing industry and other key sectors are being damaged by sky-high fuel prices and we are committed to help the industry through this."

Meanwhile, Mike Rumbles, the Scottish Liberal Democrats Shadow Fisheries Secretary, urged the Scottish Government to intervene and support the Scottish fishing industry.

He said:

"The Scottish Government cannot ignore fishermen's protests in London. Just because they are banging on the door of the Prime Minister and not gathering outside Bute House does not mean that the Scottish Government can wash its hands of this looming crisis for the industry.

"Other European governments are taking real action to limit the fuel prices faced by fishermen. Yet in Scotland, despite the First Minister's bluster that fuel prices are a ‘massive, national outrage', the Scottish Government refuses to follow suit. The First Minister is keen to pick fights with Westminster about Scotland's share of the oil revenues. Fishermen must be wondering if this is just a ploy to distract from his Government's inaction.

"If the First Minister wants to avoid the angry scenes we've seen in London today, he needs to commit to taking the necessary steps to helping the fishing industry through this difficult time."

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