GUERNSEY must match any fuel subsidy French fishermen get if it wants the industry to survive, says a veteran local skipper. Blockades were yesterday still preventing local fishermen landing their catches in French ports.
Fishermen there have taken the action to back their demand for state aid to meet the escalating price of fuel. Dougal Lane (pictured) has stopped fishing in his boat, Copious, until the situation is resolved. A skipper for 30 years, he said there was no point with no means of export.
But he backed the protesting fishermen. ‘They have to do what they have to do,’ said the former president of the Guernsey Fishermen’s Association. ‘I’m totally in support.’ Mr Lane said that if the French, who have blocked harbours with cables and large trawlers, were given subsidies, Guernsey’s fishermen would need them as well in order to compete.
‘If other fishermen are getting subsidies, we are at a disadvantage. The high cost of fuel affects us too. If that happens, then the States will have to act if they still want a fishing industry here.’
Chief Minister Lyndon Trott said he would today contact the senator of La Manche, the area from Granville to Cherbourg.
‘I will ask him for the inside track on how long he thinks the blockades will disrupt the free passage of goods,’ he said. ‘I will also ask him what plans exist to provide further fuel subsidies, if any, to the French fleet. Once I’m aware of these details, I will be best placed to consider our position.’
Mr Lane said that approximately 50% of a fisherman’s gross income currently went on fuel.
‘The problem is the French cannot survive as they are. They were told they were going to get a subsidy but have not seen a penny.
‘Food has not gone up in price in years from our point of view. The supermarkets push the price down all the time, but our costs go up all the time.’
Despite his support for the action in France, Mr Lane was not in favour of subsidies. ‘If an industry cannot survive on its own, it should die. But if the Europeans start to get subsidies, it would not be a level playing field.’
Commerce and Employment minister Carla McNulty Bauer said the last House reviewed a range of support initiatives and economic stimulants for industry.
‘Our view was that there would be a general presumption against subsidies but where they can be shown to add value they should be used sparingly. They should be targeted and transparent and the change in business activities should be measurable,’ she said.
‘One of the workstreams that will be considered by the new board will be to look at and consider any incentives or support schemes which could add value to our local economy.’
Article posted on 29th May, 2008 - 2.30pm
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