22nd September 2026

The CFPO warns that repeated requests for urgent help have gone unanswered, putting vessels, seafood supplies and thousands of coastal jobs at risk.

The Cornish Fish Producers Organisation is calling for immediate government action as exceptionally
high fuel prices threaten the viability of the UK fishing fleet. CFPO members are reporting red-diesel
prices well above £1 per litre, creating a real risk that more vessels will be forced to tie up.

The industry has repeatedly raised the issue with government and asked for targeted support, but no
help has been offered. Meanwhile, the European Union’s emergency framework remains available
until the end of 2026, allowing Member States to compensate their fishing businesses for exceptional
energy costs.

This creates an uneven playing field. UK boats are competing for catches and markets alongside EU
vessels from countries providing fuel-cost assistance, including vessels operating in UK waters, while
British boats must meet the full additional cost themselves.

Paul Trebilcock, Managing Director at W Stevenson & Sons and the CFPO Chairman, said:
“We have already seen local boats stop fishing or work closer to shore as fuel costs have spiralled.
This means less fish coming into ports such as Newlyn. Last year, this Government gave EU vessels
another 12 years’ access to UK waters. Now some of those vessels can fish in our waters with EU-
enabled fuel support from their own governments, while UK boats fishing alongside them have been
offered nothing. That is not a level playing field, and it is simply not acceptable.”

“The Government cannot stand by while British fishing businesses are placed at such a serious
competitive disadvantage. Short-term, direct help with fuel costs is needed immediately, not warm
words or rhetoric.”

Chris Ranford, CEO of the CFPO, said:
“We have repeatedly asked government for help, but the seriousness of the situation is still not being
recognised. Fuel is one of the biggest operating costs for a fishing vessel, and boats cannot keep
absorbing these increases. Fishermen are price takers, not price makers, when selling their catch. If boats become unviable and tie up, the impact does not stop at the harbour wall. Supplies of fresh
fish and shellfish fall, and markets and supply chains grind to a halt.”

“Skippers, crew, processors, merchants, transport firms, engineers, ice plants, chandlers, hospitality
businesses and retailers are all affected. Our True Value of Seafood to Cornwall research shows that
every fisherman supports around 15 additional jobs across Cornwall’s seafood economy.”

“Government announced a £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund over 12 years, but that
long-term commitment is not a substitute for urgent help now. Action is needed to keep viable boats
at sea, seafood moving through our harbours and people in coastal communities in work.”

The CFPO is calling on the UK Government to treat fuel costs as an urgent food-security, employment
and coastal-economy issue and introduce a fair, time limited support package for the fishing fleet.