The Cornish Fish Producers Organisation is calling for immediate government action as exceptionally high fuel prices threaten the viability of the UK fishing fleet.
The CFPO has issued a warning that repeated requests for urgent help have gone unanswered, putting vessels, seafood supplies and thousands of coastal jobs at risk. With fuel prices well above £1 per litre, there’s a real risk that more vessels will be forced to tie up.
‘The Government cannot stand by while British fishing businesses are placed at such a serious competitive disadvantage. Short-term, direct help with fuel costs is needed immediately, not warm words or rhetoric,’ said CFPO CEO Chris Ranford.
‘We have repeatedly asked government for help, but the seriousness of the situation is still not being recognised. Fuel is one of the biggest operating costs for a fishing vessel, and boats cannot keep absorbing these increases. Fishermen are price takers, not price makers, when selling their catch. If boats become unviable and tie up, the impact does not stop at the harbour wall. Supplies of fresh fish and shellfish fall, and markets and supply chains grind to a halt.’
While the UK government has not moved on offering targeted support to the fishing industry, the European Union’s emergency framework remains available until the end of 2026, allowing Member States to compensate their fishing businesses for exceptional energy costs – creating an uneven playing field. The UK industry is competing for catches and markets alongside EU vessels from countries providing fuel-cost assistance, including vessels operating in UK waters, while British boats must meet the full additional cost themselves.
‘We have already seen local boats stop fishing or work closer to shore as fuel costs have spiralled. This means less fish coming into ports such as Newlyn,’ said CFPO chairman and W Stevenson & Sons managing director Paul Trebilcock.
‘Last year, this Government gave EU vessels another 12 years’ access to UK waters. Now some of those vessels can fish in our waters with EU-enabled fuel support from their own governments, while UK boats fishing alongside them have been offered nothing. That is not a level playing field, and it is simply not acceptable.’
He commented that crews, processors, merchants, transport firms, engineers, ice plants, chandlers, hospitality businesses and retailers are all affected, stating that the CFPO is calling on the UK Government to treat fuel costs as an urgent food-security, employment and coastal-economy issue and introduce a fair, time limited support package for the fishing fleet.
‘Our True Value of Seafood to Cornwall research shows that every fisherman supports around 15 additional jobs across Cornwall’s seafood economy,’ he added.
‘Government announced a £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund over 12 years, but that long-term commitment is not a substitute for urgent help now. Action is needed to keep viable boats at sea, seafood moving through our harbours and people in coastal communities in work.’
