Fishermen protest over fuel prices

Scores of fishermen, supported by French and Belgian colleagues, protested in London on Tuesday over high fuel prices they say are crippling their businesses.

The demonstration outside the government's environment ministry came a week after hauliers caused traffic chaos in the capital with a protest over fuel costs and coincided with disruption by farmers and truck drivers in France.

"Fuel prices are escalating and it's crippling the fishing industry," said Steven Cowan, chairman of Bridlington and Flamborough Association of fishermen, based in East Yorkshire, northern England.

The protest leaders met a government minister to demand urgent support. Besides demonstrations in France, fishermen in several other European countries such as Italy and Spain have protested over high fuel prices.

"France has fuel subsidies, Spain has fuel subsidies, but the English government won't sanction them," said Cowan.

"If the outcome (from the talks) isn't good we'll take more militant action, like blockading ports, or we'll ask the road haulage people out to support us," he said.

Cowan said fishermen from across the UK had come to protest, but the demonstration was smaller than planned because the police had stopped some people from gathering on the grounds it had not been authorised.

Jean Yves Fournier, a fisherman from Boulogne, France, said he had joined the London protest "in solidarity" with his British colleagues.

"The problem is a European problem and it should be treated in an equal way. There's a danger that Europe will no longer be able to depend on seafood if nothing is done," he said.

One of the banners read "Fuel Support: France, yes. Spain, yes. UK, ???".

Fisheries Minister Jonathan Shaw met the fishermen's leaders but promised no immediate relief.

"What is needed is a long-term approach, not just short-term assistance, that helps the fishing industry adapt to rising fuel prices," said the spokesman for the environment department.