DESPITE the fact that the totality of Malaga’s fleet of fishing boats returned to the local waters this week, fishermen have stated that they will go on strike again, joining the transport sector in a stoppage to protest about the price of fuel.
The strike is planned for Sunday, June 8, when the almost 350 fishing boats in the province will remain in port, to demand that the government create a professional classification of fuel, sold at no more than 40 cents per litre, in order to make the fishermen’s daily work worthwhile.
At the moment, they claim that prices have doubled since last year and they are not making any profit, only just enough to cover their expenses, despite the fact that they pay no taxes on fuel.
During last week’s strike, which was planned to be indefinite, there was no local fish from the Alboran Sea to be seen in Malaga’s markets. Although local catches make up only 10 per cent of the fish consumed in the province, it is these traditional local products which are most in demand at fish restaurants.
Some 1,500 families between Caleta de Velez and Fuengirola depend on fishing to survive. Many have already given up and are looking for work elsewhere in order to be able to support their families. Strikes have been called in all Spanish ports and also in France and Portugal. |
