Fishing 'fuel mark up' is being reduced
It's hoped fishers in Plymouth will stop losing out to those in Brixham
Last updated 28th Mar 2022
Bosses at Plymouth's Sutton Harbour say they hope to reduce the price of fuel from Friday, following concerns fishers are moving to rival ports to save money.
It comes after the leader of Plymouth Labour has written to the new Conservative leader of Plymouth City Council to invite him to hold an urgent cross-party meeting with the city’s fishing community.
Councillor Evans believes 'uncompetitive fuel prices and the breakdown of the ice plant' are having a knock on impact on the port's success.
He said: “Plymouth fishermen are currently paying 15-20p more than other ports.
"I have no idea if that is down to bad buying, or profiteering by Sutton Harbour Holdings but the council should not be working to help them access ÂŁ25m in public cash while this continues.
“The ice plant failure has meant, while ice can be delivered in bins and boxes to be lowered to boats, a mechanical failure on part of the delivery system means that it cannot be dispensed directly onto vessels heading to sea as normal.
“There is real urgency to all of this and the anxiety being felt by fishermen is palpable.
In response, a spokesperson for the harbour group said: "Sutton Harbour Group has been working in close and productive collaboration with Plymouth City Council, Plymouth Trawler Agents, tenants on Fish Quay and local fishermen on progressing the plans for redevelopment of Fish Quay and Plymouth Fisheries for the benefit and betterment of the fishing industry, Plymouth and Sutton Harbour Group."
Regarding the specific issues raised, they added: "Sutton Harbour Group continues to seek the best possible price it can for fuel and has committed to a plan with the fishing community for reducing the mark up on the purchase price, which will be passed on to fishermen from April 1st, with a commitment for subsequent regular review and updating.
"Sutton Harbour Group is attending to the repair of the Ice Plant facility in as timely a manner as possible, and in the meantime has taken steps to ensure the uninterrupted supply of ice to all in the fishing community who require it, deploying Sutton Harbour Group manpower to assist in this regard until repairs are completed.
"Sutton Harbour Group looks forward to a continued and enhanced cooperative and productive relationship with the fishing community, and to achieving the vision for Fish Quay in partnership with PCC to secure, as far as is possible, the productivity of the fishing industry for the decades to come."
Council Richard Bingley responded by saying: “I’m very happy to work cross-party and am delighted to be visiting our fishermen and the quay with Cllr Tudor Evans.”
“With increasing living costs, caused in part by the pandemic and international conflict, we do not have the luxury of political division in Plymouth.
"The plight of the fishermen should not be a party-political issue.
“I look forward to meeting privately, hearing their concerns, and learning about how we can find practical solutions to help.”