Cost of fish and chips set to rise 50% as rising fuel prices hit fishermen

As if soaring fuel prices were not bad
enough, they may soon affect a great British institution - the fish supper.

The cost of fish and chips could rise by up to 50 per cent because of rising fuel costs, a government body warned today.

The Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) said rises in the price of diesel used to power fishing vessels would have a "significant effect" on the cost of fish over the next 12 to 18 months as trawlermen struggle to break even.

Research by the non-departmental body found the increase was likely to be between seven per cent and 50 per cent, with an average price hike of 23 per cent.

The cost of fuel for trawlers has already increased from 31p to 60p per litre in the last year, Seafish said.

This is expected to increase further as analysts predict crude oil prices could rise to £101 per barrel.

"We are now seeing a complete change in the cost of bringing the catch to market," said Philip MacMullen, head of environment at Seafish.

"There's a lot we can do to try to mitigate cost increases, including looking at different fishing methods and improvements to gear technology.

"Nonetheless, consumers must be prepared for significant increases in the cost of seafood if we are to continue to have a viable catching, processing and distribution sector in the UK."

Fuel-efficient measures being adopted by fishermen include the use of static nets.
But Mr MacMullen said consumers were going to have to accept that some fish price increases were "inevitable".

He added: "It's also likely that if current trends continue we will see fishing effort decrease overall, and, possibly, the number of boats fishing in UK waters decline as it may become too expensive to put out to sea."

Mike Park, of the Scottish White Fish Producer's Association, said: "We are a high user of fuel and are extremely dependent on it, so its price can create an Achilles' heel for us.

"In some cases, fuel is currently 50 per cent of operating costs, which is a huge amount.

"The cost of fuel is already a big problem but it has the potential to be a massive problem to the industry.

"One way round that is for the price of fish to rise."

David Audley, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers and a fish-and-chip shop proprietor, said: "We are in a situation where the price of all food is going up for various reasons.

"However, fish and chips have always remained competitive and I trust it will stay that way.

"One of the advantages we have is that when restaurant prices rise, fish and chip takeaways become an alternative for consumers.

"We are all concerned that prices are going up, as business people and consumers.
"But at the end of the day, people have to eat."