European Fishermen’s Leaders meet to agree Action Plan

There is no sign that fuel prices will reduce in the near future. As a result, thousands of fishing enterprises across the European Union are jeopardised unless government support measures are put into place as a matter of urgency. For every fisherman at sea up to five shore workers in ancillary industries are potentially affected.

The fishing sector has called on Commissioner for fisheries and maritime affairs, Mr Joe Borg, to meet with them to agree an action plan and a way forward.

In addition, all member state governments are being pressed to co-operate in the development of a European support plan for fishing in response to the crisis.

A document outlining the fishing industry’s vulnerability to short-term market forces such as the fuel crisis has been prepared and is being currently circulated to the Commission and member state authorities.