North-east seafood processors are facing huge problems getting their exports to European mainland markets because of disruption in northern France, industry bosses said yesterday.
Will Clark, chairman of the Scottish Seafood Association (SSA), the trade body for the country’s seafood processors and sellers, added the difficulties were costing Scottish companies tens and potentially hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Channel Tunnel delays and at least one closure due to migrants trying to reach the UK as well as French farmer protests have caused major hold-ups for fish lorries and also lost orders, he said.
Earlier this week, a mob of 200 farmers protesting about cheap food imports hijacked seven lorries carrying fish from Scotland through Brittany. The fish was then destroyed.
Mr Clark said it was ironic that the catch was landed in Scotland by a French boat, but the incident had highlighted a “farcical” and growing crisis for food exporters.
He added: “Spanish and French buyers are increasingly reluctant to place orders because there is no guarantee of when they can be delivered.
“These problems are starving the whole system for some of our seafood processors, causing a knock-on effect all round.”
SSA has written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon seeking her support in persuading Prime Minister David Cameron to do everything in his power to “get these problems sorted”.
Mr Clark said: “This will be affecting many exporters across the UK.
“These problems have been going on for weeks and are costing members of our association tens and probably hundreds of thousands of pounds.
“They could also cost jobs. Something needs to be done.”
He said about 80% of all the seafood landed into Scottish ports was exported in trade worth many millions of pounds.
He added: “It’s a very large part of our economy.
“But supermarkets on the continent are reluctant to buy from us just now because they do not know when to expect deliveries, and we are unable to give guarantees.
“If it is not migrants in the tunnel, it is ferries on strike or French farmers protesting and dumping fish on the street and then pouring petrol on it.
“It seems to have been one thing after another for the past six months.”