ARCHIVED - Andalusian fishermen to join the work stoppage next Monday, maybe indefinitely
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
Fuel prices for fishing ships in Andalucía have tripled in the last year, making it unprofitable for them to go out on the seas
The entire Andalusian fishing fleet, including those of Barbate and Conil in Cádiz, will support the planned national stoppage in the sector scheduled for Monday March 21 by refusing to go out and fish on the seas. The reason is none other than the high price of fuel, which makes it unviable for them to go out fishing – the cost of taking the boats out would outweigh any profit they could make from selling the fish.
Right now, the price of a litre of diesel for fishing boats is around 1.20 euros, whereas a year ago it was 40 cents a litre – an increase of 200% in a year. The Spanish government has promised this week to lower the cost of fuel, along with electricity and gas, but will not start until the end of the month.
It was decided to hold a fishing stoppage at a meeting held on Tuesday morning in the Fishermen’s Guild of Sanlúcar de Barrameda by representatives of the Andalusian Federation of Fishermen’s Guilds (Facope) and the Andalusian Federation of Fishing Associations (Faape).
Among the agreements reached by the fishermen is a total stoppage of the fishing sector in all the ports of Andalucía and in all types of fishing at least for that day, with the trawling and purse seine fleets being the most affected by the rise in the price of diesel. The intention is that this stoppage will also be supported by the small-scale fleet.
The mooring of the boats in port next Monday would, in principle, be indefinite, but it will depend on what happens on the same day at the meeting of all the government fisheries officials from the different countries that make up the European Union.
If the fishing sector in Andalucía decides to down anchors indefinitely, until further notice, there is likely to be a shortage of fish and seafood in shops, and the cost of this produce will almost certainly go up.
Among the demands by the Andalusian federations representing the fishing sector are the reduction of VAT from the current level of 10% to 4%; exemption from paying social security contributions; and exemption from paying port taxes. These measures would form part of a package of aid for the fleet “on a temporary basis and until the current situation lasts”
In the runup to the general stoppage on Monday, there are already ships that have decided to remain moored in port and others will join the stoppage, forced by the rise in prices.
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