BORDEAUX (Reuters) - Emergency aid of 400 euros has been promised to each sailor in the Arcachon Bay, in Gironde, whose average income over the last three months has been lower than the minimum wage, we learn from a union source .
According to Alain Argelas, president of the Arcachon Syndicate of Sailors, Shipowners and Bosses (Samap), four municipalities (Arcachon, La Teste-de-Buch, Le Teich and Gujan-Mestras) have agreed to grant this emergency aid to sailors, the day after the lifting of their blockade of the Arcachon marina.
Advances on fuel prices and an increase in average 10 cents per kilo of fish for sale at the auction were promised on shipowners to pay the crews, do we added the same source.
About thirty sailors blocked the entrance to the marina over the weekend to protest against the increase in the price of diesel and the insufficiency of a recent government envelope of 80 million euros. (Econology note: Not only is this a temporary solution but in addition this sum represents approximately 80 times what it would take to make good progress at the Pantone R&D level. This measure is therefore obviously to the detriment of real advances in research for a fuel-efficient engine ...)
Joined by fishermen and shipowners, the sailors lifted the blockade Monday evening, after the promise of meetings on Tuesday under the authority of the sub-prefect of Arcachon.
The port has undertaken to pay for three months an advance of 5 euro cents per liter of diesel consumed by the trawlers.
"It is not a feeling of total satisfaction, but at least these measures will allow us to get back to sea and that is what is essential," said Alain Argelas.
The fishermen pay 0,52 euro per liter for diesel when, according to the union, the fuel should be 0,30 euro for fishing to be profitable.