Welsh fishing fleet 'in crisis'

The majority of lobster caught off Wales is exported to France and Spain

Wales' 500 strong fleet of commercial fishing vessels is in crisis due to a blockade by French fishermen and rising fuel costs, industry leaders say.

The Welsh Federation of Fishermen's Associations said its market had all but disappeared because of the blockade of French ports.

Most of the Welsh fleet fishes lobster and crab which goes to the continent.

But the rise of global fuel costs was also having an impact on the industry with many fearing for the future.

Chief executive Jeremy Percy said 450 of the 507 fleet were small boats with many specialising in shellfish sold to mainland Europe.

"The combination of the two factors has caught everyone on the hop," he said.

With a blockade on many European ports the Welsh shellfish industry is in crisis.

"There is the very real danger that many will go out of business in the near future.

"The French fishermen, also suffering the effects of fuel prices, have taken their usual robust approach and are blocking entry of shipments as well as pressuring French wholesale buyers not to buy British shellfish.

"There are reports that French fishermen have been removing anything other than their own fish and shellfish from retailers and giving it away to the public.

"If we tried to do what they are doing, the police here would come down on us like a tonne of bricks."

Mr Percy said most of the crab and lobster bought by caterers in the UK was from Canada and while he said the British product was superior it would take time to convince suppliers to change.

A lot of them [Welsh fishermen] don't know what to do because there's no point going to sea if they can't sell the catch Glyn Phillips

He also said the association was also looking at emerging markets in the Far and Middle East but again the switch could not happen overnight.

Glyn Phillips who runs The Celtic out of Milford Haven said some fishermen had already stopped going out to sea.

His boat employs a crew of four, his two sons who are fifth generation fishermen, and two others.

"Fuel costs have gone through the roof," he said.

He said five years ago it would cost £300 to fuel the boat for six days fishing but now it cost over £1,200.

"We are very lucky in that we supply to the Far East," he added.

He said much of the shellfish caught off the Pembrokeshire coast was transported in trucks with water tanks to keep them alive until they reached France.

"I know one buyer who lost 10 tonne of product in France last week when they forced him to turn the engine off," he added.

"A lot of them [Welsh fishermen] don't know what to do because there's no point going to sea if they can't sell the catch."