Fuel subsidy 'blow' to fishermen

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Fishermen want fuel subsidies

County Down fishermen are disappointed the assembly will not provide a fuel subsidy such as that offered by the Spanish government to its fleet.

NI Fisheries Minister Michelle Gildernew has announced a £25m fund to help boats improve competitiveness over the next five years.

The cash is earmarked for fleet modernisation and improving processing facilities for prawn and white fish.

The fishermen had been pressing for help with escalating fuel prices.

They said prices had risen to a point where fuel now represents more than 50% of the overall operating costs of Northern Ireland boats.

Ms Gildernew received strong representations from the 130-boat fleet to match the 30,000 euro fuel subsidy which their Spanish counterparts will receive over the next three years.

But the minister said that, with other industries also suffering the impact of fuel prices, she was not able to put a sustainable case to the executive for the fuel subsidy for the fishing sector.

Fishery forum

However, she has announced a number of short-term measures aimed at helping boat owners address the rise in operating costs.

These include fuel efficiency measures with grants to install fuel-flow metres and regulators to help reduce fuel consumption.

Ms Gildernew also announced changes to the days-at-sea regulations which should help Northern Ireland-based prawn boats to work an extra 10% at sea this year.

Instead of 183 days, boats will now be allowed to fish 204 days.

The minister has now set up a fishery forum to plan the £25m investment which is intended to help the local fleet become more competitive and have a profitable future.