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Seafood producers in talks over Calais Channel delays Seafood industry 'needs urgent help' over Calais Channel delays
(about 7 hours later)
Alternative ways for Scottish seafood producers to get their products to market will be discussed at a meeting later. The seafood industry is in need of urgent help due to the ongoing delays at the Channel Tunnel, the Scottish government has said.
The Scottish government is convening talks in response to problems caused by the ongoing migrant crisis in France. Talks were convened in response to problems caused by the ongoing migrant crisis in France.
Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said priority lanes were needed for perishable goods.
Mr Lochhead said discussions were also under way to identify alternative routes.
He said he had written to the UK government.
Key representatives from the seafood, fishing and transport sectors had been invited to discuss options.
Migrants in Calais are making nightly bids to reach the UK, leading to delays on cross-Channel services.Migrants in Calais are making nightly bids to reach the UK, leading to delays on cross-Channel services.
Scottish firms have raised concerns about financial losses and cancelled orders as a result of the disruption.Scottish firms have raised concerns about financial losses and cancelled orders as a result of the disruption.
Ministers said the aim of the meeting was to encourage work between processors and transporters to identify alternative routes to market.
Key representatives from the seafood, fishing and transport sectors were invited to discuss options.
'Difficult trading''Difficult trading'
Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "With fish commodities accounting for almost two thirds of all Scotland food export products - compared with just 12% for the UK as a whole - Scottish seafood producers are being disproportionately affected by the ongoing Channel Tunnel disruption.Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "With fish commodities accounting for almost two thirds of all Scotland food export products - compared with just 12% for the UK as a whole - Scottish seafood producers are being disproportionately affected by the ongoing Channel Tunnel disruption.
"The situation in Calais is clearly complex and requires a multi-agency response involving both UK and French authorities - and the Scottish government continues to urge the UK to play its part in a coordinated and comprehensive EU plan of action to deal with the migrant crisis."The situation in Calais is clearly complex and requires a multi-agency response involving both UK and French authorities - and the Scottish government continues to urge the UK 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.""We also need action to address the immediate issue around getting vehicles and exports moving again."
He added: "The Scottish government has been working hard to investigate what practical support we might be able to offer, such as helping to identify alternative routes or modes of transport. But it is vital that any prospective solutions work for industry which is why we have convened today's meeting to explore options to put to the wider seafood processing sector." He added: "The Scottish government has been working hard to investigate what practical support we might be able to offer, such as helping to identify alternative routes or modes of transport. But it is vital that any prospective solutions work for industry which is why we convened today's meeting to explore options to put to the wider seafood processing sector."
James Cook, managing director of DR Collin, a large seafood exporter in Eyemouth, told the BBC the situation at Calais was having a significant impact of business.James Cook, managing director of DR Collin, a large seafood exporter in Eyemouth, told the BBC the situation at Calais was having a significant impact of business.
"We are a speciality company," he said."We are a speciality company," he said.
"We deal in high-value live products - live langoustine and live lobster - so this has an even shorter shelf-life than fresh perishable goods, so it is of even more significance to us."We deal in high-value live products - live langoustine and live lobster - so this has an even shorter shelf-life than fresh perishable goods, so it is of even more significance to us.
"At the moment, I have to say, after five weeks of this, we are in very, very difficult trading terms. This is our fifth week with these losses and it can't continue.""At the moment, I have to say, after five weeks of this, we are in very, very difficult trading terms. This is our fifth week with these losses and it can't continue."