Western Isles MSP, Alasdair Allan, today welcomed the announcement that the SNP Government will implement a five point action plan to help the Scottish fishing industry counter the effects of rising fuel costs.
Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead MSP has announced that the Scottish Government will:
* Establish a Task Force to quickly bring forward steps to help the industry
* Provide immediate help to offset fuel costs, including £400,000 for the annua
l maintenance costs of life rafts on every vessel in Scotland and £300,000 for the cost of the warranties vessels must pay on their satellite monitoring equipment. *Seek a meeting with the UK Government to discuss wider issues of the impact of fuel prices
* Continue to press the European Union to ensure a level playing field on subsidies.
* work with the industry to develop a fuel efficiency scheme.
Mr. Allan said: "Increasing fuel prices is having a serious detrimental effect on the viability of our fishing industry both in the Western Isles and Scotland as a whole and this issue is one which, as shown by Richard Lochhead, is being dealt with through effective communication with our fisherman and their industry representatives.
"I have been contacted over the past few weeks by many fishermen in the Western Isles who have told me stories of huge increases in fuel costs which threaten the viability of their businesses. I am glad that the SNP Government has acted quickly to implement this action plan."
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