Since Thursday, September 17 in the morning, fishermen from Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Nice have been blocking the entrance to Nice port. The mobilization is aimed notably at the increase in diesel prices and the difficulties encountered by the profession. A Corsica Ferries ferry has been diverted to Savona, while a crossing to Île-Rousse has been cancelled.
Since dawn on Thursday, September 17, access to Nice port is blocked by fishermen mobilized against the increase in fuel prices. About fifteen professionals are participating in the action, both on land and at sea. Six fishing boats have been positioned at the entrance to the Lympia basin, preventing ships from entering or leaving.
The mobilization mainly concerns fishermen from Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Nice. The stated objective is to alert authorities to the difficulties encountered by the profession and to obtain answers in response to the increase in diesel costs.
“I hope there will be a little awakening, explains a fisherman from his boat taking part in the blockade of Nice port since 7 o’clock this morning. It’s about time France woke up […] we’ll see how things develop. Enough, enough, all this that’s happening here, enough, stop.”
The situation is already having consequences on maritime traffic. The Pascal Lota, a ferry from the Corsica Ferries company, was supposed to dock in Nice this Thursday morning. Prevented from entering the port by the boats positioned at the entrance, the ship was eventually diverted to Savona, in Italy, with its passengers on board.
The 5 p.m. crossing between Nice and Île-Rousse, also operated by Corsica Ferries, has also been cancelled. A few yachts that were due to leave the port are also waiting.
A mobilization spreading along the Mediterranean coast
The blockade of Nice port is part of a movement affecting several Mediterranean ports since the beginning of the week. Actions have notably been carried out in Sète, Frontignan, Fos-sur-Mer and Port-la-Nouvelle. In Sète, about thirty boats were still blocking the port on Thursday morning, while access to Frontignan’s oil depot was again disrupted.
The movement was launched on Monday by the regional fishing committees of Occitania, Paca and Corsica, with the organizations of Mediterranean producers and unions of seafarers. The increase in fuel prices is the main demand as diesel represents a significant part of the operating costs of ships.
Faced with this mobilization, the government announced on Wednesday, September 16 an increase in aid for fishermen. Fuel support increases from 25 to 35 cents per liter and is to be extended until December 31. This aid corresponds to the maximum level authorized by the European Commission.
Representatives of Mediterranean fishing are to meet on Thursday at 11 a.m. with Catherine Chabaud, deputy minister in charge of the Sea and Fisheries. The meeting is to notably focus on the economic situation of the sector and support measures in response to fuel costs.
In Nice, Éric Ciotti went to the port in the morning to meet with the fishermen. “Fishermen do an extraordinarily difficult job,” declared the mayor of Nice. Éric Ciotti is calling on the government to “take its responsibilities” and demands “urgently, measures for fishing.”
The mayor of Nice is notably calling for an increase in aid to “40 or 50 cents” per liter, but also “its payment,” which has apparently not yet been made.
The departmental secretary of the PCF06, Julien Picot, also reacted to the blockade of Nice port. “The PCF06 gives its full and complete support to the fishermen of Nice port, mobilized on Thursday to denounce the explosion in fuel prices that directly threatens their activity and the future of Mediterranean fishing.”
Julien Picot believes that the increase in fuel costs also threatens “an entire sector, our maritime economy, our food sovereignty and the future of local artisanal fishing.” The PCF06 official is calling on the government to provide “lasting solutions” and believes that one-off aid cannot be the “only response to a situation that repeats itself.”
The mobilization therefore continues this Thursday morning at Nice port with no planned end date for now. Fishermen are now awaiting the discussions planned with the minister for the Sea and Fisheries to learn about the responses to their demands.
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