French fishermen block ports
Fishermen's wrath: A fisherman throws a pallet into a fire at a roadblock near a fishing port in Boulogne, northern France, last Tuesday. Hundreds of French fishermen blocked ports and oil depots in France in protest against diesel fuel costs and fishing quotas they claim were killing their business. Picture: Reuters
Thursday, May 22, 2008
FRENCH fishermen extended their protests against the rising cost of diesel yesterday, blocking access to fuel depots and harbours and halting much cross-Channel ferry traffic between France and Britain.
The fishermen say they face bankruptcy unless the government intervenes because the cost of marine diesel has risen by 30 per cent since the beginning of the year.
In Paris, protesting fishermen scuffled with police near the agriculture and fisheries ministry ahead of talks between their representatives and Minister Michel Barnier, who has asked the European Union for permission to give state aid to the sector.
Police said three officers were seriously injured when fishermen threw objects at them.
Oil giants Total and ExxonMobil reported fishermen were blocking truck traffic at their La Mede and Fos-sur-Mer refineries, which supply service stations in the Marseille region in the southeast.
Port authorities in Calais said 80 fishing boats were blockading the ferry terminal and all traffic to Britain had stopped. Blocks were also in place at the nearby Boulogne and Dunkirk harbours.
Fishermen continued to besiege fuel depots along the coastline, although police forcibly removed them from two depots supplying the southwestern city of Bordeaux.
All major fishing ports and some commercial ports were also blockaded by fishing boats, some carrying banners that said "Sarkozy, liar! Seamen are dying" in reference to promises by President Nicolas Sarkozy last year to aid the industry.
The government had approved in January a plan to support the sector worth US$485 million over three years, of which 30 million have already been disbursed.
Barnier is seeking approval from the EU commission to accelerate some of the aid measures. But fishermen say the plan has been overtaken by events because fuel costs now eat up 50 per cent of their turnover as opposed to 35 per cent when the government was preparing its plan. They say it is impossible for them to make a profit. Stiff competition from imported fish, which makes up 85 per cent of consumption, have compounded the fuel problem.Reuters
The fishermen say they face bankruptcy unless the government intervenes because the cost of marine diesel has risen by 30 per cent since the beginning of the year.
In Paris, protesting fishermen scuffled with police near the agriculture and fisheries ministry ahead of talks between their representatives and Minister Michel Barnier, who has asked the European Union for permission to give state aid to the sector.
Police said three officers were seriously injured when fishermen threw objects at them.
Oil giants Total and ExxonMobil reported fishermen were blocking truck traffic at their La Mede and Fos-sur-Mer refineries, which supply service stations in the Marseille region in the southeast.
Port authorities in Calais said 80 fishing boats were blockading the ferry terminal and all traffic to Britain had stopped. Blocks were also in place at the nearby Boulogne and Dunkirk harbours.
Fishermen continued to besiege fuel depots along the coastline, although police forcibly removed them from two depots supplying the southwestern city of Bordeaux.
All major fishing ports and some commercial ports were also blockaded by fishing boats, some carrying banners that said "Sarkozy, liar! Seamen are dying" in reference to promises by President Nicolas Sarkozy last year to aid the industry.
The government had approved in January a plan to support the sector worth US$485 million over three years, of which 30 million have already been disbursed.
Barnier is seeking approval from the EU commission to accelerate some of the aid measures. But fishermen say the plan has been overtaken by events because fuel costs now eat up 50 per cent of their turnover as opposed to 35 per cent when the government was preparing its plan. They say it is impossible for them to make a profit. Stiff competition from imported fish, which makes up 85 per cent of consumption, have compounded the fuel problem.Reuters
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