Western Isles fishing industry 'on knife edge' amid fuel shortage

Fishermen in the Western Isles say they need more government support to help deal with the rising cost of red diesel.

Since the outbreak of the war in Iran, fuel prices have doubled for some small businesses, with those who rely on the fishing industry warning they are struggling to absorb the extra costs.

Fishing has been one of the mainstays of the Western Isles economy for decades.

But the ongoing surge in fuel prices is proving more than just a challenge for those who depend on it.

Fisherman Finlay Macdonald, who owns two vessels – Challenger and Rival 2 – says he is taking a double hit as costs rise across the board while the price of his catch remains static.

He said: “It’s a massive blow at the moment because it’s not just the price of fuel itself – it’s the increase in the cost of everything required to run a business.

“Even service providers are feeling the pinch to some extent; some of them are closing their doors. We’re on a knife edge at the moment, industry‑wide. Now is the time of need.

“Long-term its not sustainable. How long can people hang on?”

The price of red diesel – which powers fishing vessels – has soared since the beginning of the conflict. It previously cost around 60 to 70 pence a litre.

That has now doubled to around £1.20 in just a few weeks – pushing up the cost of running a fishing boat by around £40,000 a year.

Those representing the industry say more support is needed to keep vessels afloat.

Councillor Duncan Macinnes said: “It’s the biggest blow we’ve seen for a number of years. It will have a huge impact on the earnings of crew members. They’ll have to think carefully about which days they go out, and that will have a knock‑on effect on the supply of shellfish across the UK.

“There is funding available for that )governments) could be assisting the industry with; helping toward fuel costs should be a key priority at this particular time.”

It’s not just fishermen who are feeling the strain.

The crofting community is also being hit by rising diesel prices.

Lauren Howard and her partner rear pedigree sheep and cattle across a number of crofts in the Back area of Lewis.

Everything they rely on – from tractors and quad bikes to generators powering lambing sheds – runs on diesel.

“With crofting, your margins are small anyway, if you’re lucky enough to make a profit, but this is going to add even more pressure,” she said.

“It depends on how much baling we can do, as it will determine how much stock we have over the winter.

“It’s going to have an effect on the whole business – there has been a huge burden on farming communities over the last few years. This added pressure is squeezing them even more.”

A government spokesperson said: “Farmers and fishers are paying more because of the war in Iran. This is not our war and that is why we did not join it.

“We’ve already extended the 5p fuel duty cut from last month until September and all UK fishing boats can claim fuel duty relief. Red diesel continues to benefit from an 80% tax discount compared to full duty diesel, saving farmers around £300m a year.”