Warning trade blockade could sink seafood firms
A national trade body for Scotland’s seafood sector has warned ‘millions’ will have been lost during the UKFrench border crisis.
Seafood Scotland said many companies have seen tonnes of fresh produce bound for the European Christmas market gone to waste and expressed concern for the impact on small companies.
The crisis came after French authorities announced a 48hour suspension of all travel and accompanied freight from entering the country - leading to miles of lorry traffic building up on approach roads to the Port of Dover.
That move followed a decision by the UK Government to order a ‘tier four’ lockdown affecting London and the south east from Sunday December 20.
There have been rising concerns about the spread of a new variant of Covid-19. Agreement was reached on Tuesday December 21 to allow freight to move again from Wednesday December 22 but that was too late for some, said Donna Fordyce, chief executive of Seafood Scotland.
She said the window in which companies would be able to salvage anything had ‘closed’.
‘Millions has been lost, much of it by small companies that were depending on this trade for survival,’ she said.
‘From our conversations with insurance companies, no policies will cover these major losses and without financial support from government many companies that were relying on these crucial 48 hours of trading to replenish their cash flow, will tragically go to the wall.
She added: ‘We fully understand the concerns are for public safety, so what we urgently need is routine testing of drivers, then clear prioritisation for seafood and other live cargo. There are still markets in Europe between Christmas and New Year and Scottish seafood companies must have access to them to try to claw back some of the financial damage done.’
The UK Government said all people travelling from the UK into France were required to show proof of a negative coronavirus test taken within the previous 72 hours. The protocol will be reviewed on December 31, but could run until January 6, it said.
All lorry drivers, irrespective of nationality, will require a lateral flow test. It can detect the new strain of Covid-19 and provide results in around 30 minutes, rather than the 24 hours required after a polymerase chain reaction test.
The French Government will also carry out sample testing on incoming freight to the UK, said the UK.
A mass testing programme for HGV drivers was getting under way to alleviate congestion at ports, said the UK Government.
Seafood Scotland said the situation had given a ‘terrifying insight’ into what the situation could be come January 1.
She said: ‘While passage may not be formally blocked by then, there remains a red tape blockade which will likely have exactly the same impact.’