Rising fuel prices hit the occupation of many fishermen as they cannot afford go on fishing with huge expenses. The expense is driving some fishermen out of business. Fishermen said that current situation of fuel prices is devastating and in fishing harbors around New England, fishermen are having trouble making any money at all. The price of the catch fish has not increased but the fuel prices are rising. This added woes to the fishermen as they don’t cover the expense of operating the boat.
According to a commercial fisherman spending three days at sea working round the clock but failed to manage the price of his catch. Bert Jongerden, the general manager of the Portland Fish Exchange, told that the fishermen can only get what customers will pay, since fish is sold at auction. He also said whatever economic forces are working that day, that’s what the price will be.
According to Jongerden half the fishing fleet in Portland isn’t working. The owners say with fuel so expensive, it just doesn’t pay to leave the dock. Economists and fishermen both predict that if fuel prices stay this high, many fishermen will be forced out of business. Many fishermen are now considering selling their federal fishing permit for the larger that they own.
