Around 100 fishermen and supporters blockaded the Frontignan oil depot near Sète on Wednesday morning (September 16), setting up barricades just 24 hours after a similar demonstration at the Fos-sur-Mer oil terminal near Marseille. The protesters vowed to intensify pressure on Paris, demanding urgent meetings with Fisheries Minister Catherine Chabaud and an immediate reduction in diesel prices.
Record fuel prices spark industrial action
The industrial action comes as France faces historic fuel costs, driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Official figures show unleaded 95-E10 has surged to an average of €2.11 per litre—the highest price recorded since data collection began in 1985—while diesel has climbed to €2.29, with some regions recording prices of €2.80 per litre.
The coordinated protests have triggered panic at the pumps, with around 9% of service stations nationwide reporting shortages of at least one fuel type. Fishermen have also warned that their working conditions have deteriorated to a breaking point, as sky-high operating costs are stripping away their livelihoods. Protesters reported struggling to stay afloat financially while navigating what they describe as a suffocating mountain of new administrative red tape and regulatory demands from both Paris and Brussels.
Tensions flare at Fos-sur-Mer
Tensions flared on Tuesday (September 15) when police stepped in to clear roughly 50 fishermen who had blocked 50 tanker trucks for around seven hours at Fos-sur-Mer, Bouches-du-Rhône, where protesters displayed banners reading: "Europe is killing us" and "The EU is sinking our boats and Paris is watching us". The protest followed similar demonstrations on Monday in Sète and Port-Vendres, in Pyrénées-Orientales.
Mediterranean seafarers’ unions have launched joint campaigns, warning that blockades and disruptions will persist until the government provides concrete financial relief to the sector. Calls for the Gilets Jaunes (Yellow Vests) movement to return to the streets for a massive national 'day of action' on October 17 are circulating on social media platforms.
Government rules out tax cuts
Desperate to escape the squeeze at the pumps, motorists in border regions are fleeing to neighbouring Spain and the microstate of Andorra, where significantly lower fuel taxes allow drivers to save up to €0.60 per litre compared with prices in France. Despite growing anger, the French government has insisted it will not cut fuel taxes. Minister Delegate for Energy Maud Bregeon attempted to reassure the public, declaring that "there is no risk of a shortage" while confirming President Emmanuel Macron was working to restore normal shipping conditions in the Middle East.
France ranks as the EU’s second-largest producer of fishery products, behind Spain. French fishermen caught around 477,000 tonnes of fish and shellfish in 2023 and 2024, according to government figures.
