- The fishing industry has been idling since the start of the coronavirus crisis.
- The leading fishing region in France, the Brittany region is suffering the full brunt of the epidemic with boats remaining at the quay and auctions mostly closed.
- Many voices are raised asking consumers to continue to eat fish and thus support the industry.
"The problem is not so much the will to go to sea, it is above all that we are unable to sell our goods." Like most of his colleagues, Pascal (*), a fisherman at Saint-Quay-Portrieux (Côtes-d'Armor), is sailing in troubled waters. Since the canteens and restaurants closed more than two weeks ago, the entire fishing industry has stopped because of a lack of outlets. The leading fishing region in France, Brittany has been hit hard by this unprecedented crisis. "The few auctions that remain open are idling," said Lionel Faure, secretary general of the Breton Association of buyers of fishery products (Abapp). We have to be 30 tonnes of fish sold every day against 300 tonnes usually ”.
In this context, many shipowners prefer to leave their fleet at the dock while waiting for better days. "For those who are on small volumes it still goes, but it is useless to go out for those who make large volumes", underlines Pascal. This is particularly the case for deep-sea fishing, these large fishing vessels that go to sea for ten or fifteen days. "As long as the volume of purchase is not assured, the shipowners no longer dare to get the boats out for fear of not being able to pay the diesel fuel or the sailors' wages," adds Lionel Faure.
Masks and tests on board soon
Added to this is the fear of contamination by the coronavirus, which worries certain crews. "When we leave a fortnight or three weeks in a boat, we have to have masks, maybe we have to try to make sure that there are tests at the start of the boats, we work on that", Didier Guillaume, Minister of Agriculture and Food, replied on Monday.
In this context, many voices are heard in the region in an attempt to save the sector. Chairman of the Fisheries Committee in the European Parliament, the Breton Pierre Karleskind calls on consumers to continue buying and consuming fish and seafood products.
The fishermen of our regions are organizing to continue to supply us. In this particular period, let us continue to buy and consume fish for our health and to support a sector which is also suffering from the situation! #mangerdufrais pic.twitter.com/5WD0SuIqO4
- Pierre Karleskind (@Pierre_Ka) March 17, 2020“For our health and to support a sector which is also suffering from the situation! ", He indicates. Same story on the Abapp side. "People are not going to hold on by eating only canned food," says Lionel Faure. They must return to the fishmongers so that activity can resume, even if it is only in slow motion. ”
Large retailers asked to help the sector
The players in the sector also challenge large retailers by asking them, as for fruits and vegetables, to highlight local seafood on the stalls.
New manager of the port of Saint-Malo, the company Edeis has launched an appeal to supermarkets and hypermarkets in the region in order to supply them with short circuits. An initiative to which two chain stores from Système U have responded favorably for the moment. "Let us hope that their example inspires their competitors and that the example of Saint-Malo can win all of the ports of France and thus help rescue the fishing industry, encourage our compatriots to consume quality products, fresh fishing and local, ”said Edeis in a press release.
In Finistère, some fishermen have even embarked on direct sales to try to sell their goods. Survival methods denounced by Lionel Faure, believing that "the whole industry must remain united in the storm". But he dreads the aftermath. "We are already emerging from a succession of crises with three months of storms as well as the uncertainties linked to Brexit," he said. It was already a lot and I fear now that it will be too many crises ”.
* The first name was changed at his request.
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