This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7432664.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Fishermen stage oil price protest | Fishermen stage oil price protest |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| At least 500 fishermen and their families are expected to demonstrate against rising fuel prices, fishing industry representatives have said. | At least 500 fishermen and their families are expected to demonstrate against rising fuel prices, fishing industry representatives have said. |
| The fishermen say oil costs mean they lose money whenever they go to sea. | The fishermen say oil costs mean they lose money whenever they go to sea. |
| French fisherman are expected to join the protest outside the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in London to show international support. | French fisherman are expected to join the protest outside the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in London to show international support. |
| Protests against the cost of fuel have been staged by fishermen across Europe, as well as UK and Dutch lorry drivers. | Protests against the cost of fuel have been staged by fishermen across Europe, as well as UK and Dutch lorry drivers. |
| 'Pan-European problem' | 'Pan-European problem' |
| Fishermen say that everything they use is based on oil - from the rope with which they make their nets, to the fuel they run their boats on. | Fishermen say that everything they use is based on oil - from the rope with which they make their nets, to the fuel they run their boats on. |
| They say as a result the spiralling cost of oil, combined with a cut this year in their fishing quotas, it is no longer worth going out to sea. | They say as a result the spiralling cost of oil, combined with a cut this year in their fishing quotas, it is no longer worth going out to sea. |
| The fishermen accuse the government of not applying for direct grants for the industry, which are available from the European Union and which other countries have taken up. | The fishermen accuse the government of not applying for direct grants for the industry, which are available from the European Union and which other countries have taken up. |
| One of the organisers of the protest, Richard Brewer, a fisherman from Whitby, said the French fishermen were coming to support the protest and to show that this was a pan-European problem. | One of the organisers of the protest, Richard Brewer, a fisherman from Whitby, said the French fishermen were coming to support the protest and to show that this was a pan-European problem. |
| He said there could also be more demonstrations in the future. | |
| "We feel this government should realise we have a fishing industry in this country. It has to survive and we hope that they can help us make it survive. | |
| "This time last year my weekly fuel bill was about £2,000. The same week this year, as last week, my fuel bill was £4,500," he said. | |
| A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesman said ministers believed a long-term approach, rather just short-term assistance, was needed. | A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesman said ministers believed a long-term approach, rather just short-term assistance, was needed. |