Fuel prices could break 'dying' fishing industry

Fishermen in Guernsey have said increased fuel prices caused by ongoing conflict in the Middle East are damaging an already struggling fishing industry.

"If the fuel price goes up it's really going to hurt the industry and, we're in a very poor state," fisherman Richard Keen said.

He added the industry "is dying and fuel prices will probably speed that up".

Deputy Lee van Katwyk, who has responsibility for the fishing industry on Economic Development (ED), said: "If we want fishing to continue to be part of our heritage in the future we need to do something drastic to help them today."

Wholesale oil and gas prices have surged since the conflict began on 28 February, with the production and transportation of energy across the Middle East slowing or stopping entirely due to missile strikes and drone attacks.

In recent days gas prices have soared further after airstrikes on energy facilities in Qatar and Iran.

Keen says Guernsey's fishing industry is especially vulnerable to price changes as much of the fish caught needs to be exported.

He said: "It costs the fuel to go out there and get them, and if you want to get good prices you have to take your fish to France or England.

"And if your costs go up 25% in fuel, it makes it very expensive."

He added that currently 30% of his income from his fishing charter boat currently goes on fuel, and he expects this could rise to about 40% with fuel price increases.

The former vice president of the now defunct Guernsey Fishing Association, Dougal Lane said: "I've only got a 10 metre boat but it's still 250 litres a day and the last price I had was 67p a litre.

"If it goes up to 80p or 90p or whatever, then we'd leave it tied up, it's not worth going to sea."

The latest Sea Fisheries annual bulletin showed 989.2 tonnes were landed in Guernsey in 2023 - a 10% drop compared with the previous year.

Fish numbers have also been affected by booming octopus populations in the Channel Islands.

Jason Hamon, the owner of the shop Surf & Turf said: "You can see the transportation prices have risen.

"You're going to get fuel surcharges, so I'm expecting that to rise again very soon." he added.

"People will always buy (fish), but maybe in smaller quantities and maybe a little bit less often."

Van Katwyk said he plans to take these concerns from the fishing industry to an upcoming ED meeting.

He said: "These are real dire times, this could break the Guernsey fishing industry.

"It's part of our cultural identity and that in itself makes it important.

"We're proud of it and we're protecting it to make sure that people come in and enjoy the Guernsey way, and fishing is part of that," he added.

He said islanders should "watch this space" with regard to support that may be offered.

Keen added that he worries for the future of fishing in Guernsey.

He said: "We virtually have no young fishermen, and you cannot recommend anybody going into fishing."

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