Will Breton fishermen survive confinement? While to help French farmers and producers strongly impacted by the coronavirus crisis, it is encouraged to consume locally, some large retailers do not play the game in the "marine" radius, denounce many fishermen. These brands import fish from Spain and other European countries. "Unfair competition", protests the Brittany Fisheries Committee, which has resulted in a collapse in the price of fish, according to Olivier Le Nézet, president of the Committee.
>> LIVE - Coronavirus: follow the development on Tuesday
Imports from Spain and Northern Europe
All Breton ports are affected and all fish, including monkfish, very present on the stalls. In general, Breton fishermen bring back 15,000 tonnes per year. But since the start of containment, the boats have not been leaving: this would not be profitable. Because, at the same time, the imports made by certain brands from European countries where wages are lower and different working conditions are maintained.
CORONAVIRUS ESSENTIALS
> How many deaths at home should be added to the epidemic?
> What is the purpose of AlloCOVID, the telephone platform that uses artificial intelligence?
> Why we will have to wait before finding masks in pharmacies
> Coronavirus: can the MMR vaccine be dangerous for children?
> These platforms which help to find a job during confinement
"Big box stores make money out of people's misery"
"Who benefits from the crime?" Wonders Olivier Le Nézet, president of the Brittany Fisheries Committee. "Financial opportunity and greed prevail over the general interest", he denounces, taking the very concrete example of monkfish. "Today, a monkfish bought 1.40 euro (by a sign, note ) will be resold the same price as that fished by a Breton ship. It is inadmissible!", Protests Olivier Le Nézet on Europe 1.
"Big box stores make money out of people's misery," he says. According to a press release from Breizhmer (association of players in fishery and aquaculture products in Brittany) published on Monday, "certain supermarket chains have given in to the old demons of profit while they continue to show their support for producers French".
>> Watch all of Raphaëlle Duchemin's programs in replay and podcast here
The Brittany Fisheries Committee, faced with this situation which jeopardizes a whole industry, has already planned to alert the Ministry of Agriculture and Food to demand strict controls on the origin of fish sold.