The government of France has announced financial support for commercial fishers as part of a EUR 70 million (USD 81 million) aid package designed to offset soaring fuel prices caused by the Iran war.
France will be providing EUR 0.20 (USD 0.23) per liter in reimbursement for commercial fishing vessels’ fuel bills. Diesel used for fishing is already exempt from taxes, the government noted. Roughly EUR 5 million (USD 5.8 million) of the EUR 70 million aid package will be used for fishing fuel reimbursements, according to the release.
The country's Ministry of Economics, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty said the funding is necessary to keep fishing vessels going out to sea and ensure the seafood sector continues operating.
The aid package is limited solely to the month of April, meaning that more aid could be announced later on if high fuel prices persist. The French government has also informed the European Commission of the need for direct aid for commercial fishers and has called for a review of how the bloc can support decarbonizing the French fishing fleet to make it less reliant on oil.
Commercial fishing fleets around the world are struggling to cope with rapidly rising fuel costs caused by the Iran war, with European officials and trade groups calling for emergency government support for fishers.
“The current geopolitical context, especially instability in the Middle East and rising oil prices, is having a direct impact on the European fisheries sector. Fuel represents one of the largest operating costs of the fleet, so the continued increase in prices is putting at risk the economic viability of many vessels,” E.U. Fisheries Committee Chair Carmen Crespo Díaz said in a release. “If this situation continues, many vessels could be forced to halt their activity, with serious consequences for employment in coastal communities and for the supply of seafood on the European market.”
At a 30 March meeting of the European Union's Agriculture and Fisheries Council, the European Commission announced its intent to utilize the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) to support the fishing sector.
France’s announcement comes shortly after the Spanish government announced aid for its commercial fleet, along with other producers. The government will distribute EUR 25 million (USD 29 million) in aid based on vessel activity and daily fuel consumption.
In the United States, commercial shrimpers are considering staying tied to the dock due to high fuel prices.
“For a recent 30-day trip, I spent USD 47,000 (EUR 40,740) on diesel before I even left the dock. That is USD 20,000 (EUR 17,337) more for a single trip than the previous year,” Coden, Alabama, U.S.A.-based Zirlott Trawlers owner Jeremy Zirlott said in a release. “U.S. shrimpers operate on razor-thin margins, and right now, the increased cost of diesel makes it nearly impossible to turn a profit in the wholesale shrimp market.”
