Auctioneer Jesper Kongsted at the Hanstholm fish auction is warning skippers to avoid landing catches just as Denmark’s road network is be crippled by large-scale protest action later this month.
Danish hauliers are planning protest action on 15th May, and the Hanstholm auction wants to avoid a situation in which large quantities of fish may remain unsold, or sold at knock-down prices as buyers may find it impossible to transport their fish on that day.
The truckers are set for long-term action until their demands are met. These relate to a proposed kilometre tax, a more equally shared CO2 tax and other requirements. Hauliers are calling for a more approriate tax on fossil fuels across the transport, agricultural, fisheries and industrial sectors.
The truckers hoping for support from fishermen, farmers and other businesses affected by the government proposals.
While Jesper Kongsted at the Hanstholm auction wants to see minimal disruption to the sales and transport of fish, he appreciates the hauliers’ position and agrees that tariffs should be levied equally and not on a small number of haulage operators who are disproportionately affected due to the location in the north-west of Jutland.
‘With every respect for the action on 15th May, we also have to think a little and look after our fishermen on that day, so that they don’t get hit. Hence the call not to land fish for the auction on Monday 15th May,’ he said.
