Boulogne port still blocked

FERRY services at Dunkerque and Calais have resumed this morning after fishermen temporarily lifted a blockade of the ports.

The port of Boulogne-sur-Mer remains completely blocked to traffic, including ferries.

Fishermen of the Côte d’Opale area (the coast of Nord-Pas-de-Calais) are holding meetings at Dunkerque at 10.00 and at Calais at 13.00 to decide whether to block the ports again.

Pressure has been mounting on the fishermen. A court in Boulogne-sur-Mer has ordered them to stop the blockages or face fines, following action taken by ferry companies LD Lines and P&O whose passengers have been left stranded at the ports.

P&O is also considering demanding compensation from the government.

Some members of ferry unions have spoken out in support of the fishermen, notably the CFDT union for SeaFrance, who have threatened to block the Channel Tunnel if an agreement with fishermen is not reached.

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Michel Barnier yesterday proposed an aid package of €4 million to the fishermen, who say badly organised cod and sole quotas are ruining their livelihoods and forcing them to throw large quantities of fish back into the sea.

Mr Barnier made no promises that quotas could be changed, but said he would have a discussion with the EU’s fisheries commissioner in the next few weeks about the issue.

The presidents of the Calais fishermen and the local fishing committee of Dunkerque, both members of the CGT union, said that they were disappointed by the lack of promises on quotas.

However a local spokesman for the CFTC expressed satisfaction that the minister had listened and offered some constructive proposals.

Photo:Fishermen block Dieppe port last May
Afp/Robert Francis