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Fishing facing a 'stark reality' Fishing fuel meeting 'positive'
(about 10 hours later)
Some Scots fishing boats could soon be forced to tie up in the face of rising fuel costs, according to the Scottish White Fish Producers' Association. Fishing industry leaders have said they are hopeful that a compensation package will be agreed to see them through the current fuel crisis.
Fishermen are meeting in Peterhead on Saturday to discuss the situation, but have said it is becoming not financially viable to go to sea. Skippers were meeting in Peterhead to discuss the price of diesel, which they claim is spiralling out of control and could force some boats to tie up.
The Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) has already asked for urgent help from the UK Government. However, George McRae of the Scottish White Fish Producers' Association said a pan-European settlement was likely.
Scottish ministers have set up a task force to look at what can be done. He said that fishermen would not embark on militant action over the issue.
It will report in August. After the meeting, Mr McRae told BBC Scotland that any settlement was not likely to involve a cut in fuel duty.
Earlier in the week the SFF called for immediate assistance of the sort already given to the French and Spanish fleets. "What it's likely to involve is financial assistance for the industry," he said.
We're facing a stark reality of fishing boats tied to the wall George McRae Scottish White Fish Producers' Association "The meeting went very well, there was positive, constructive debate.
George McRae of the Scottish White Fish Producers' Association said fuel prices were becoming "impossible" and that some members were close to tying up their boats. "We are hopeful over the next few weeks that constructive discussion will produce a package that we can live with in the short-term."
He added: "We're facing a stark reality of fishing boats tied to the wall, it's no exaggeration, it's not crying wolf, it's the reality of what fishermen face." Mr McRae said a pan-European settlement was likely, which took account of the interests of fishing nations across the EU. We're confident that this matter can be resolved positively, in the interests of the industry and the public George McRae
The Fuel Taskforce set up by the Scottish Government met for the first time on Friday. In the meantime, he said, fishermen would take part in peaceful protests - the first of which will be held in London on Tuesday, when industry leaders meet the UK Fisheries Minister.
The SNP has said the high cost of fuel was costing skippers tens of millions of pounds, and was undermining the fleet at a time when it is recovering from years of quota cuts and vessel decommissioning. "What we will not become involved in is unacceptable militancy, blockades and things like that because it does nothing to help the public or the industry," he said.
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead said: "We need to do all we can to ensure the renewed confidence that has developed in the fishing industry over the past year is not completely undone by increased fuel prices." "We will addressing this in a sensible, constructive and very positive manner."
Mr McRae said despite the difficult conditions, there was hope for the industry.
"Before the fuel crisis arose, the industry had turned the corner and many people were making a good gross profit," he said.
"We're confident that this matter can be resolved positively, in the interests of the industry and the public."
The Scottish Government has said the high cost of fuel was costing skippers tens of millions of pounds, and was undermining the fleet at a time when it was recovering from years of quota cuts and vessel decommissioning.
It set up a Fuel Taskforce to establish an action plan to combat the impact of fuel costs on fishermen.
It met for the first time in Edinburgh on Friday and will report back to ministers in August.