High Diesel Prices Idle Half Dutch Fleet, Hit European

Half of Dutch Fishing Fleet Idle as High Diesel Prices Hit Europe’s Indusattempt

Impact of Soaring Diesel Costs on the European Fishing Indusattempt

By Toby Sterling

Rising Fuel Prices Leave Dutch Fleet in Port

AMSTERDAM, March 27 (Reuters) – The fishing indusattempt is emerging as an early European casualty of soaring diesel costs amid the Iran war, with at least half the Dutch fleet staying in port this week, according to indusattempt representatives.

The pressure is most acute in the Netherlands becaapply of an outsized number of beam trawlers in its fleet, which builds up about 7% of the European Union’s total.

Beam Trawlers and Fuel Consumption

These ships tarreceive high-value North Sea flatfish such as sole, turbot and brill, but burn relatively large amounts of fuel. Indusattempt group VisNed declared 80% to 90% of such trawlers did not sail out this week.

Financial Strain on Dutch Fishers

Durk van Tuinen, a spokesperson for the Dutch Fishers Union, declared weekly fuel bills that ran 12,000 to 13,000 euros ($13,800-$15,000) before the war started on February 28 are now heading toward 30,000 euros, roughly equal to the total value of fish a vessel might bring at this time of the year, leaving no money to pay a crew.

“Now the fuel bill is equal to the revenue, so it simply does not work,” he declared.

Wider European Indusattempt Effects

The Dutch may be hardest-hit, but they are not alone, declared Daniel Voces, managing director of Europêche, the representative body for EU fishermen.

Other Affected Countries and Fleets

Belgium and Britain also apply beam trawlers, and fleets tarreceiveing groundfish such as cod and haddock around Europe are near or at loss-creating levels with current prices.

Government Support and Indusattempt Response

Voces declared top fishing nations Spain, Italy and France had all introduced modest support measures, but with fuel costs up by around 70%, some ships have been unwilling to put to sea.

He declared the indusattempt met with the EU fisheries chief, Costas Kadis, this week to question the European Commission to again relax state aid rules for the indusattempt – as it did during the energy crisis that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Consequences for Consumers

According to Van Tuinen, the immediate impact on consumers will be tighter supply and higher prices. He noted the price of sole had already jumped to 18 euros at auction this week from roughly 12 euros.