Fishing fuel strikes, protests hold firm across Europe

Fishing fuel strikes, protests hold firm across Europe
AFP - Saturday, May 31 08:11 pm

MADRID (AFP) - An all-out strike by Spanish fishermen, who operate Europe's largest fishing fleet, went into a second day Saturday, amid protests on land and at sea across Europe at rocketing fuel prices.

Virtually all Portuguese trawlers were also staying in harbour, union officials said, whilst striking Italian fishermen managed to delay the start of a sailing race in the Mediterranean.

The rapid rise in the price of oil has pushed up the cost of marine diesel by around 30 percent since the beginning of the year, causing trawler owners to warn they face bankruptcy without increased subsidies.

French fishermen have been on strike for two weeks, whilst in eastern France a Saturday morning go-slow by around 100 lorries jammed up major roads in the Lorraine region, according to organisers.

While most French fishermen along the Atlantic and Channel coasts are returning to work, those in the Normandy port of Cherbourg and in west-coast Saint Brieuc have voted to continue their strike action until Monday, their local representatives said.

The Spanish fishing strike has so far been "a big success in terms of participation," said Javier Garat, secretary general of the Cepesca employers' federation, which represents some 1,600 boats and 20,000 fishermen.

On Friday evening protesting French farmers decided to lift their blockage of a petrol depot at Annecy, but warned of further unspecified action on Monday.

Another depot, at Villette de Vienne, "will remain blockaded at least until Sunday evening," according to Jean-Louis Ogier, an official from the Rural Coordination movement in Isere.

The Italian fishermen who blocked the start of the sailing race between Viareggio, in Tuscany, and Monaco, unfurled banners from their trawlers outside the port saying: "Expensive diesel is choking fishermen," and "400 families are on their knees because of fuel prices," Italy's ANSA news agency reported.

In northern Spain, striking fishermen face a particularly acute dilemma, as June marks the beginning of the tuna season, which brings in 80 percent of the annual revenue for the 50-trawler fleet of Bermeo, said Patxi Martinez, a local boat-owner.

"To leave harbour and fish in these conditions, is to lose money. To not set sail, that will also ruin us, and destroy the fleet. Unfortunately, these are the only two options available to us," the president of the Bermeo Fishing Cooperative, Jon Lartitegui, told AFP.

In neighbouring Portugal, "not a single fishing vessel left harbour from any of the major ports," the head of the Federation of Fishing Unions, Antonio Macedo, told the domestic Lusa press agency.

Talks are scheduled for Tuesday between Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Jaime Silva and fishermen's representatives, but he has already ruled out "palliative and temporary measures".

On Friday a Spanish government official announced that Spain, France, Italy and Portugal would jointly propose an EU fund to help fishermen hardest hit by the price rises.

The proposal will be discussed at a meeting of the four countries in Madrid next week.

However the European Commission on Friday demanded the power if necessary to reduce existing fish quotas -- a proposal likely to further anger the fishing industry.

The French government last week announced 100 million euros (155 million dollars) in immediate aid.

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ガソリン：各地で大幅値上げ　１７０円台のスタンド続出

　原油価格の急騰を受けて、各地のガソリンスタンドは１日、ガソリンの小売価格を相次いで大幅値上げした。石油元売り各社は６月の卸値を１リットル当たり１０円以上引き上げており、東京都内などではレギュラーガソリンを１リットル＝１７０円台で販売するスタンドが続出。全国平均価格も近く、８７年の統計開始以来初めて１７０円を突破する見通しだ。

　東京都大田区の出光興産系のスタンドは１日、レギュラーガソリンの価格を１リットル＝１５９円から１７４円へ一気に１５円引き上げた。５月末から店頭に「原油が史上空前の異常な高騰を続け、大幅値上げをお願いせざるを得ません」との張り紙を掲げ、理解を求めた。

　１日午前、給油に訪れた会社員の男性（３７）は「値上げは痛い。２００円まで上がるようなら今のジープ型の車から燃費の良いハイブリッド車への買い替えも考えたい」と話した。

　５月の米国の原油先物相場は１バレル＝１３５ドル台の史上最高値をつけ、原油の調達コストが急上昇している。元売り最大手の新日本石油は６月のガソリンの卸値を１２円、ジャパンエナジーは１３円引き上げ、出光も５月後半分を含めて計１４．５円の大幅値上げを行った。

　石油情報センターによると、５月２６日現在のレギュラーガソリンの全国平均小売価格は１リットル＝１６０．３円。６月の大幅値上げで家計の負担はさらに増しそうだ。