Fisherman’s friend
May 5th, 2008
posted by Cptn
This is a press release we got from South West MEP Neil Parish that we just thought we’d put out there for discussion and debate. You know how to debate don’t you, you just put your lips together and blow.
“Brussels, 5th May 2008 — South West MEP Neil Parish has criticised the EU for allowing French and Spanish governments to support their fishing industries through EU “de minimis” rules, whilst UK fisherman continue to suffer in the face of ever-rising fuel bill.
The French government have recently promised a £230 million handout to their fishermen in a deal which would see British fishermen pay £765 more to fill a 4,500 litre trawler fuel tank than their French counterparts. This handout will come partly from EU funds and a new 2% tax on supermarket fish sales. The Spanish also have substantial state subsidies aiding their fishing fleets.
Joe Borg, the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, has criticised the French and Spanish state subsidies and has launched a Commission investigation into whether they are compatible with EU state aid rules, however this is too little and too slow for Mr Parish.
Mr Parish Said: “If we have to suffer the Common Fisheries Policy it should at least be a common policy. These subsidies distort the market and put South West fisherman at a significant disadvantage to their counterparts in France and Spain. Rocketing fuel prices, including record highs of over US $119 per barrel are hitting our fishermen hard.
“While skippers claim they can pay a maximum of 23p per litre of diesel to maintain a viable business, current fuel costs have raised the price to 44p per litre. For a medium-sized beam trawler the fuel costs may therefore be more than a third of its grossing. According to some industry leaders, going out to sea today is causing skippers’ debt, rather than profit.
“Against this backdrop, it is scandalous that the EU is allowing France and Spain to get away with subsidising their fisherman in this way under what is supposed to be a Common Fisheries Policy.”
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