Government must show political will to chart course out of fisheries fuel crisis

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 10th Jul 2008

The UK Government must work closely with devolved administrations inside the UK, as well as other Member States, if the current economic crisis in the fisheries sector caused by rising fuel costs is to be alleviated, according to Elspeth Attwooll MEP.

The European Parliament in Strasbourg today backed the Commission proposal for a Council regulation instituting a temporary specific action aiming to promote the restructuring of the European Union fishing fleets affected by the crisis.

Speaking after the vote, the Lib Dem for Scotland MEP said:

"The restructuring package offers a variety of options - from total decommissioning through partial decommissioning to conversion to more fuel efficient engines and gear.

It is vital that the Westminster government mobilises the funding needed and uses it to support measures tailored to the situation of different localities and segments of the fleet. To do this it will have to work in close consultation with the devolved administrations and with fisheries organisations.

If it does not act, our fishermen will be put at a competitive disadvantage by comparison with those whose governments do have the political will to give the assistance so urgently needed".

ENDS