Lorry drivers in Spain have gone on strike over rising fuel costs which adversely hit the fishing industry on the Western Isles. Fishing boat crews have been asked not to fish because imports of recently landed catches have not been able to reach destinations in Europe. Eddie MacNeil, of Sandray Shellfish on Barra, told that he would normally expect to send out 60 tonnes of shellfish this week to Spain and France.
According to him three trucks sent last week, but this week the fishermen failed to sent any. He added that the authority has told all the boats not to fish because they can’t guarantee there is going to be a market, or going to be able to transport the shellfish to the markets. The Spanish authority has taken measure to end the strike and agreed with unions representing 88 percent of Spain’s lorry drivers, envisage tax relief and emergency credit among other things.
Hauliers’ unions had called off negotiations with the government after a lorry driver was run over and killed earlier this week. Drivers demand a minimum price for their services to prevent firms from being undercut.
