SCOTTISH fishermen's leaders yesterday called for urgent action to reduce the impact of soaring fuel costs on the Scottish fishing fleet.
The cost of marine fuel has leapt to record highs in recent weeks, with some skippers having to pay 42p a litre (£2 per gallon) to fuel their vessels.
Earlier this month, a small number of twin-rigged trawlers remained in Fraserburgh harbour f
or almost a week rather than put to sea in rough weather. The skippers said the fact there was no guarantee they would be able to fish made trips financially unviable.
Fishermen in Northern Ireland recently lobbied the Northern Ireland Assembly over the issue, while an online petition has been set up on the Downing Street website in a bid to force oil companies to provide bunker fuel at the same cost – regardless of location – for Britain's fishermen.
Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, said that some Scottish skippers were struggling to remain viable.
Fuel costs have doubled in the last four years, and now typically account for around 50 per cent of the expenses for a single fishing trip.
Mr Armstrong has already raised the crisis with Richard Lochhead, the rural affairs secretary, who has agreed to highlight industry concerns at a meeting today in Brussels with Joe Borg, the European Fisheries Commissioner.
Mr Lochhead backed the need for action, adding: "The high price of fuel is of great concern to the fishing industry.
" I am clear that there must be a level playingfield across Europe."
The full article contains 259 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
