Struan Stevenson

A NEW package of EU emergency measures to help fishermen facing ruin, due to soaring fuel prices has been welcomed by Scottish Euro MP and fisheries spokesman, Struan Stevenson.But the UK must back the moves, he said.

Speaking in a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Mr Stevenson said: "I am glad the Commission has addressed the much wider crisis in the sector, which has been compounded by the steep rise in diesel costs.

"The huge cost of fuel has followed in the wake of dwindling quotas and falling prices for fish.

"The situation is so bad, that many crew in the UK are now earning less than £100 per week, driving hundreds to leave the industry at a time when we need more young recruits.

"Many vessels can no longer afford to put to sea.

"They lose money on every trip they make.

"Now angry fishermen are blockading ports and striking lorry drivers are refusing to carry freight.

"Markets have been totally disrupted at the most productive time of the year.

"But the Commission has offered a lifeline to the sector.

"Those Member States who submit proposals for fleet adjustment schemes or for the complete re-structuring of their fisheries sector will receive aid from the European Fisheries Fund.

"This will include aid to replace larger vessels with smaller fuel-efficient vessels.

"Aid to cover crew costs and fixed costs of vessels that are forced to tie up because of the fuel crisis, provided they also participate in a re-structuring scheme.

"Fisheries commissioner, Joe Borg unveiled proposed aid for energy saving technologies and, importantly, an increased level of aid under the de-minimis rules, which will be raised to Euro 100,000 for any individual vessel or company.

"This will go a long way to alleviating the acute crisis affecting the sector at the present time.

"Commissioner Borg also said he will explore initiatives to increase the value of fish at their first point of sale.

"The entire package was highly encouraging but still needs the approval of the Council of Fisheries Ministers in Luxembourg on June 24.

"The UK Government is notoriously reluctant to agree to aid for British fishermen.

"I sincerely hope that the UK fisheries minister, Jonathan Shaw supports this package and agrees to co-finance aid for our crisis-hit whitefish fleet.

"It would be a huge injustice if French and Spanish fishermen were to receive help from Brussels, co-financed by their governments, while our fishermen are left dangling in the wind."

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