Fishing industry concerns due to tunnel disruptions

Serious concerns have been raised here in Orkney over fears that live exports of locally caught shellfish worth thousands of pounds –  shipments of which leave Orkney on a regular weekly basis bound for the continent –  could be under threat as a result of serious disruptions and delays at the channel tunnel.

The disruption to tunnel services is being caused both by illegal migrants attempting to get into the UK, and industrial action in France, which has already led to Scottish caught fish being tipped onto the road from trailers by protesting French workers.

Fiona Matheson, secretary of the Orkney Fisheries Association said: “Spoiled cargoes of shellfish will have serious repercussions for Orkney fishermen as most do not receive any payment until their shellfish is actually sold abroad. They will not be paid for dead animals.

“If large amounts of live shellfish are dying in traffic queues Orkney fishermen may lose out substantially.”

Further details in The Orcadian out today.