Faced with continuing disruption at the French port of Calais, Scottish processors and transport companies are working together to identify alternative routes to getting seafood products to the European market.
Key representatives from the country’s seafood, fishing and transport sectors have begun discussing options with Scottish Government officials, such as other export routes or modes of transport.
Scotland exported seafood worth GBP 461 million (EUR 655.9 million; USD 720 million) to Europe last year but Scottish firms have raised concerns about financial losses and canceled orders as a result of ongoing delays at the Channel Tunnel that links France and England.
Last week, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead urged the U.K. government to prioritize fresh produce being exported to the continent.
“With fish commodities accounting for almost two thirds of all Scotland food export products – compared with just 12 percent for the U.K. as a whole – Scottish seafood producers are being disproportionately affected by the ongoing Channel Tunnel disruption,” said Lochhead.
“The situation in Calais is clearly complex and requires a multi-agency response involving both U.K. and French authorities – and the Scottish Government continues to urge the U.K. to play its part in a coordinated and comprehensive EU plan of action to deal with the migrant crisis.
“We also need action to address the immediate issue around getting vehicles and exports moving again,” he said.
Throughout July, thousands of lorries bound for Europe sat dormant on roads leading to the U.K. ferry port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel, their journeys slowed because of the disruption to freight services to Calais, brought by striking workers and an escalating migrant crisis.
Many of the loads containing fresh food have had to be destroyed.
Migrants in Calais are making nightly bids to cross the Channel, leading to delays on cross-Channel services. Last week alone, there were thousands of attempts by migrants to access the Eurotunnel terminal.
Bolstered security measures planned for the French side of the Channel Tunnel, including more CCTV surveillance, French police reinforcements and extra fencing were agreed between U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande at the end of last week.
