Danish Fishermen’s Association chairman Svend-Erik Andersen has urged Environment Minister Maria Reumert Gjerding to provide fuel aid, saying diesel costs could keep Danish vessels in port.
In an open letter published on September 29, he asked for support comparable to assistance for fishers in Spain, France, Sweden, the Netherlands and Ireland.
“Diesel prices are now approaching a level at which it is not profitable for many vessels to go to sea to fish. Costs are simply higher than revenues because of the high fuel prices,” Andersen said.
He said vessels remaining ashore could affect food supplies in Denmark and the EU. He attributed the price pressure to the continuing Middle East conflict and said costs could rise further over winter.
Danish fishers compete in a shared European market, with buyers purchasing fish at auctions in Denmark and abroad, and cannot pass higher fuel costs on to consumers, he said.
The European Commission adopted the Middle East crisis temporary state aid framework (METSAF) on April 29, allowing member states to support sectors including fisheries until December 31, 2026.
For eligible fuel-cost increases, the framework permits aid covering up to 70 per cent of verified additional costs, or simplified support of up to €50,000 per beneficiary. National schemes have different eligibility rules and payment rates.
The commission approved a €25 million Spanish fisheries scheme offering €0.20 per litre for eligible diesel bought from March 22 to June 30. France’s €13 million scheme covered April and May purchases at €0.20 and €0.35 per litre respectively.
Andersen also said fishing accounted for about 0.4 per cent of Denmark’s CO2 emissions and that the sector’s fuel consumption had more than halved since 2000.
In March, European fishing industry body Europêche called for emergency EU action, including temporary support, after some vessels’ fuel costs exceeded the revenue from fish sales.
That month, industry representatives said at least half the Dutch fishing fleet was staying in port because of high fuel bills.
VisNed said 80–90 per cent of beam trawlers had not sailed that week.
