Fishermen are stressed about their mortgages and food as the fuel crisis continues under a "tone deaf" Government, according to industry leaders. Sean Irvine, who owns two beam trawlers, said his captain has lost roughly £5,000 since the fuel surge began on February 28, triggered by US-Israel strikes on Iran. "Everything that's been talked about has fallen on deaf ears as far as I can hear," Irvine told the Express.
European Competitors Receive Direct Aid
Mike Cohen, CEO of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, highlighted that French fishing companies received direct grants of €0.20 per litre of fuel in April and €0.35 per litre in May, as part of a £13 million package. Irish boats have been given up to €0.40 per litre between March and July, allowing them to fish in British waters while UK boats struggle. "So you've got guys in places like Kilkeel watching Irish boats and thinking, I can't afford to go to sea, that guy's getting help from his Government to come into British waters and catch the fish that I can't afford to fish for," Cohen said.
UK Government Measures Fall Short
The UK Government reduced red diesel duty from 10.18p to 6.48p per litre until the end of 2026, but fishers can already claim back 100% of tax. Labour also changed rules so fishers no longer have to apply for a rebate to ease cashflow. However, Cohen said this did not go far enough. "Some sort of direct help is what people were looking for," he said. "It's in the national interest that we still have a merchant fleet, a fishing fleet that can afford to fund."
VAT Cut Called 'Tone Deaf'
Cohen said former fishing minister Dame Angela Eagle told him there was "no money spare," just two days before the Treasury announced a 5% VAT rate on children’s meals and tickets during summer. "It was just so tone deaf. We had this announcement that this would help families make memories and afford the little nice things in life. My guys are not worried about the little nice things in life. They're worried about the mortgage. They're worried about food," Cohen said. He added that the UK haulage industry was granted a 12-month road tax holiday, saving up to £912 per vehicle, while fishermen received no similar benefit.
Financial Impact on Fishermen
Fuel prices peaked at £1.30 per litre in the southwest but have since dipped to about 70p. Irvine said his captain lost roughly £500-£600 per trip over the past three months, totalling around £5,000. "That's about a couple of thousand pounds a month. You've got to try and replace that £2,000. Your mortgage is based on earnings over the course of a year, and all of a sudden you get this storm drive," he said. Cohen noted that market prices for fish are good, but the fuel costs are eating into profits. "People should have been having a really good year because the market price is good. Instead of having a good year, it's at least meant that they haven't gone under – they are scraping through. So, it's obviously frustrating to see that you're getting the best prices you've ever had for your labour and it's all going to the fuel companies," Cohen said.
Impact on Consumers
Fuel prices also filter down to UK customers. "That's why it's going up for fish and chip shops, because hauliers have had to put the price up because of fuel costs, and then wholesalers have had to put their prices up to match," said Cohen. But he said nobody was making more profit, especially fishermen, who cannot raise prices as costs surge because their catch prices are set at auction. "We're at the start of that supply chain. We don't have any control there," he added.
Government Response
A Defra spokesperson said: "The fishing industry has not been excluded from our most recent fuel duty measures. All fishing vessels have been able to pay zero duty on red diesel for years and this will continue. Under the new arrangements, fishers will now receive the entire reduction immediately, helping with their cash flow and saving on admin costs. We are monitoring the impacts of rising fuel costs closely and are considering what further measures may be appropriate to support the sector."
