Can we learn from these Breton fishermen and the passion they are demonstrating on the streets - they even get support from students and others in their fight to protect
their way of life?
Two stories from French media covering current protests in Brittany.
Fed up of Breton fishermen, between lower incomes and ecological injunctions. March 28, 2023 by Guy Pichard
On the sidelines of the protests against the pension reform, in Brittany the fishermen are also mobilising to express their fed up with the crises which are pressurising the sector, including the price of diesel which is skyrocketing.
"When I started my job as a trap setter with my boss, we had 320 traps and we were earning a good living. Today, there are four of us on board and we lift 900 traps a day just to get there” .
The observation of Yann Didelot, skipper-owner of the Breton trawler Komz me Rèr in Lorient (Morbihan), is without appeal. Part of French fishing suffers from repeated crises, such as those of Covid and Brexit. Workers in the sector met in Rennes on March 22. They were around 500, mainly fishermen from the western side of the French coast.
Without a slogan or a sign, this rally had been planned for a few weeks. “If we're protesting, it's because our income has dropped drastically and our businesses aren't even saving money anymore. We are in a tense flow” , deplores David Le Quintrec, skipper of the Izel Vor II , also based in Lorient and spokesperson for the protest. If they are not affected by the pension reform because of their special system, angry fishermen consider themselves burdened by inflation, legislation and regulations.
Without a slogan or a sign, this rally had been planned for a few weeks. “If we're protesting, it's because our income has dropped drastically and our businesses aren't even saving money anymore. We are in a tense flow” , deplores David Le Quintrec, skipper of the Izel Vor II , also based in Lorient and spokesperson for the protest. If they are not affected by the pension reform because of their special system, angry fishermen consider themselves burdened by inflation, legislation and regulations.
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| Yann Didelot and David LeQuintrec. Yann Didelot, skipper-owner of the Komz me Rèr and David Le Quintrec, skipper-fisherman of the Izel Vor II , in Lorient. ©Guy Pichard |
Increase in the price of diesel, closures of fishing areas, wind turbines at sea, quotas, prohibition by 2030 of bottom trawling in marine protected areas , competition from industrial fishing... the grievances are numerous. "The fishermen are unhappy and rightly so ," agrees Thibault Josse, coordinator of the Pleine mer association, who did not take part in the mobilization in Rennes last week. We did not want to join them in Rennes, because the demands are too diverse. We disagree with some of them, but the problem is more complicated than a simple demonstration, the crisis is above all structural.
The dolphins of anger
The dolphins of anger
On March 20, the Council of State decided to close certain fishing areas “for appropriate periods” in the Bay of Biscay to protect dolphins, “victims of incidental captures during fishing actions” . Hundreds of these cetaceans have been found dead in recent months on the beaches of the Atlantic coast. Three associations, Sea Shepherd France, France nature environment and Defense of aquatic environments, therefore seized the Council of State, which ruled that dolphins are "in serious danger of extinction, at least regionally" .
Beneficial for the survival of the species, this strong act of the highest jurisdiction of the country does not pass with certain actors in the fishing industry. “They are right to be angry about this ,” says Jean Piel, communication officer at the departmental committee for maritime fisheries and marine farming in Morbihan. From the media side, it's super easy to attack fishermen. These are people who work a lot, who often know the marine environment better than the NGOs and we are constantly on their backs”, he accuses.
Beneficial for the survival of the species, this strong act of the highest jurisdiction of the country does not pass with certain actors in the fishing industry. “They are right to be angry about this ,” says Jean Piel, communication officer at the departmental committee for maritime fisheries and marine farming in Morbihan. From the media side, it's super easy to attack fishermen. These are people who work a lot, who often know the marine environment better than the NGOs and we are constantly on their backs”, he accuses.
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| Protesters hold smoke bombs ©Guy Pichard |
Other less radical solutions would have been preferable according to the profession, starting with electronic devices installed on ships to keep porpoises away. “I placed a scarer on the hull of my boat , explains David Le Quintrec. Last year I caught a total of seven dolphins, but when I started the device, only one came up in my nets.
Work more to compensate for the increase in diesel Beyond the very media subject of porpoises, the general anger expressed in Rennes is fueled by causes similar to the demonstrations which have animated French cities in recent days. Inflation and purchasing power are on everyone's lips, added to a hardship at work and a number of hours spent on the job that has few equivalents in the professional world, apart from agriculture. “To earn as much as before, you have to work harder , regrets David Le Quintrec. I start around 1am and get home around 4pm every day, except weekends. Yet in terms of salary, the last quarter has never been so poor for a bunch of years.” he explains.
This financial pressure is dominated by a major problem: the price of diesel. A trawler consumes around 1200 liters of diesel per day. Diesel oil accounts for around 50% of the financial burden of a trawl fishing company on a trip. Numbers that make you dizzy. Fortunately for the sector, diesel still benefits from state support, extended until October 2023, up to 20 cents per liter to cope with rising fuel prices. Despite this bandage, the price of the precious liquid continues to rise. “We must invest massively in the transition instead of keeping the sector under perfusion with diesel aid” , slice Thibault Josse, of the Pleine mer association.
A Breton flag with a slogan against offshore wind turbines waved during the demonstration Offshore wind turbines are also one of the subjects of dispute. ©Guy Pichard The French government and the European Union are widely criticized by fishermen. But they also have a harsh speech towards the president of the National Committee of Maritime Fisheries and Marine Farming, Olivier Le Nézet... who is also at the head of the departmental committee of maritime fisheries of Morbihan, of the regional committee of fisheries of Brittany, of the BreizhMer association and who is also CEO of the fishing port of Lorient. This accumulation of functions does not pass with the protesters.
Joined by students
Work more to compensate for the increase in diesel Beyond the very media subject of porpoises, the general anger expressed in Rennes is fueled by causes similar to the demonstrations which have animated French cities in recent days. Inflation and purchasing power are on everyone's lips, added to a hardship at work and a number of hours spent on the job that has few equivalents in the professional world, apart from agriculture. “To earn as much as before, you have to work harder , regrets David Le Quintrec. I start around 1am and get home around 4pm every day, except weekends. Yet in terms of salary, the last quarter has never been so poor for a bunch of years.” he explains.
This financial pressure is dominated by a major problem: the price of diesel. A trawler consumes around 1200 liters of diesel per day. Diesel oil accounts for around 50% of the financial burden of a trawl fishing company on a trip. Numbers that make you dizzy. Fortunately for the sector, diesel still benefits from state support, extended until October 2023, up to 20 cents per liter to cope with rising fuel prices. Despite this bandage, the price of the precious liquid continues to rise. “We must invest massively in the transition instead of keeping the sector under perfusion with diesel aid” , slice Thibault Josse, of the Pleine mer association.
A Breton flag with a slogan against offshore wind turbines waved during the demonstration Offshore wind turbines are also one of the subjects of dispute. ©Guy Pichard The French government and the European Union are widely criticized by fishermen. But they also have a harsh speech towards the president of the National Committee of Maritime Fisheries and Marine Farming, Olivier Le Nézet... who is also at the head of the departmental committee of maritime fisheries of Morbihan, of the regional committee of fisheries of Brittany, of the BreizhMer association and who is also CEO of the fishing port of Lorient. This accumulation of functions does not pass with the protesters.
Joined by students
“The Lorient fisheries committee voted not to charter a bus for the fishermen to come to this gathering in Rennes , David Le Quintrec, spokesperson for the movement. We give him money to defend and represent us and it backfires on us. If he does not follow us, it is for political and commercial reasons. It is a mafia structure” he accuses. The criticisms against the committee are numerous, such as the impossibility of selling their products directly or a general policy deemed too soft in the face of the arrival of offshore wind turbines in the sector.
“Fishermen have every right to sell directly and this exists in Morbihan, we have never prevented them from working in this way , defends Jean Piel, in charge of communication at the Departmental Fisheries Committee. And it is wrong to say that the committee did not defend them on the subject of wind turbines. The fishermen were invited to each meeting to define the least impact zone for their activity and few of them came. This mobilization of fishermen did not in fact start in Rennes on March 22, but in Lorient, the previous week. On March 14, nine trawlers were already blocking the pontoons of the marina to demand a meeting with Hervé Berville, the Secretary of State for the Sea, and the resignation of Olivier Le Nézet.
In the Breton capital, the fishing professionals mobilized were joined by students and various supporters. Finally blocked by the police, the mobilization ended with three demonstrators injured and nine people arrested for damage and use of smoke bombs. A delegation nevertheless obtained an interview with the regional prefect. Emmanuel Macron even mentioned the demonstration in Rennes during his television intervention. While the president castigated the day before "the crowd" of demonstrators against the pension reform which would have "no legitimacy", he expressed his full understanding for the fishermen. "We must hear them and help them ," he said.
However, the atmosphere has become even more tense in recent days. On March 25 in Vendée, fishermen assaulted representatives of Sea Shepherd, the NGO being held by certain sea workers to be responsible for the decision of the Council of State to close certain fishing areas to protect dolphins.
French maritime areas, a third of which are supposed to be "protected", remain in danger for lack of means On March 24 in Lorient, about fifty demonstrators moored their boats at the entrance to the marina to block navigation. Distress rockets were fired again, this time in the direction of the maritime gendarmerie. The premises of the producer organization Pêcheurs de Bretagne were damaged. On site, David Le Quintrec expressed his desire to continue the actions pending a meeting with Hervé Berville, Secretary of State for the Sea. The port of Morbihan was still blocked on Monday March 27, joined by that of Boulognes-sur-Mer, in the North. At the same time, Breton fishermen demonstrated at the home of the president of Sea Shepherd, in Finistère.
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| Young demonstrators in the streets of Rennes between red smoke bombs. Students and sympathisers joined the fishermen. ©Guy Pichard |
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| To block the crowd's access to the Parliament of Brittany, the police used water cannons, smoke bombs and disencirclement grenades. ©Guy Pichard |
In the Breton capital, the fishing professionals mobilized were joined by students and various supporters. Finally blocked by the police, the mobilization ended with three demonstrators injured and nine people arrested for damage and use of smoke bombs. A delegation nevertheless obtained an interview with the regional prefect. Emmanuel Macron even mentioned the demonstration in Rennes during his television intervention. While the president castigated the day before "the crowd" of demonstrators against the pension reform which would have "no legitimacy", he expressed his full understanding for the fishermen. "We must hear them and help them ," he said.
However, the atmosphere has become even more tense in recent days. On March 25 in Vendée, fishermen assaulted representatives of Sea Shepherd, the NGO being held by certain sea workers to be responsible for the decision of the Council of State to close certain fishing areas to protect dolphins.
French maritime areas, a third of which are supposed to be "protected", remain in danger for lack of means On March 24 in Lorient, about fifty demonstrators moored their boats at the entrance to the marina to block navigation. Distress rockets were fired again, this time in the direction of the maritime gendarmerie. The premises of the producer organization Pêcheurs de Bretagne were damaged. On site, David Le Quintrec expressed his desire to continue the actions pending a meeting with Hervé Berville, Secretary of State for the Sea. The port of Morbihan was still blocked on Monday March 27, joined by that of Boulognes-sur-Mer, in the North. At the same time, Breton fishermen demonstrated at the home of the president of Sea Shepherd, in Finistère.
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| Angry fishermen gathered at Guilvinec • © Claire Louet/FTV |
Less than a week after their big day of mobilisation in Rennes, the Breton fishermen still did not take off. Gathered under the Guilvinec fish auction, they decided to stay at the quay. The National Fisheries Committee calls for two dead days in French ports, this Thursday March 30 and Friday March 31, 2023.
Gathered in the early evening, this Monday, March 27, under the Guilvinec fish auction, Breton fishermen decided to immediately blockade French ports.
Coming from Morbihan and Finistère, they were around 300 at the end of the afternoon. Fishermen, but also shipowners or wholesalers.
Five days after their big day of mobilisation in Rennes to protest against national and European regulations, administrative pressure and the high price of diesel, it was finally the option wanted by the Morbihannais that was chosen: immediate blockade.
Fishermen currently at sea will be able to sell their fish on their return, but no more boats will leave Breton ports.
"The wholesalers, the fishmongers are ready to follow us. We must not break this chain of solidarity," said David Le Quintrec, the Lorient fisherman behind the movement.
At the start of the meeting, the departmental fisheries committee of Finistère first echoed the decisions taken this Monday morning in Paris by the National Committee: suspension of all participation by the profession in environmental bodies such as the Marine Park of 'Iroise or Marine Protected Areas, refusal of the action plan ordering the closure at certain times of several fishing areas in the Bay of Biscay to limit accidental captures of dolphins, rejection of on-board cameras, raising of the ceilings for diesel bonuses , organization of dead sector days for Thursday and Friday.
Sea Shepherd targeted this Tuesday morning This Monday morning, the fishermen had started their day with a demonstration in front of the home of the president of Sea Shepherd France.
About fifty of them had gone to Riec-sur-Belon in Finistère in front of the house of Lamya Essemlali to protest against the actions of the NGO.
Last week, the Council of State, seized by several NGOs including Sea Shepherd, had ordered the government to close certain fishing areas in the Atlantic in order to preserve the dolphins, whose strandings in the Bay of Biscay have multiplied.
The fishermen then headed for the Concarneau auction which they wanted to close as part of an operation "dead ports". The fishing port of Lorient has already been blocked since Sunday.
Port of Lorient blocked by angry fishermen Port of Lorient blocked by angry fishermen and the fishing port of Boulogne-sur-Mer was also paralyzed by a movement of fishermen.
Two dead days Thursday and Friday in French ports The National Committee for Maritime Fisheries and Marine Farming (CNPMEM) is calling for two dead days in French ports on Thursday and Friday to demand a government response. "The cup is full and we must give a future to all the players in our sector, because today the horizon is dark ," said the CNPMEM, in a press release published on Tuesday.
The profession had expressed its anger to President Emmanuel Macron, in an open letter sent last week, demanding "a break in this avalanche of bad blows" , and claiming to be received by the head of state. Pending a response, "the CNPMEM calls on all professional representatives to suspend their participation in environmental management bodies" .
The committee specifies that the "dead port" days organized on Thursday and Friday are the result of a "unitary action" , coordinated between fishermen, fish auctions and fishmongers: "It is not a question of weakening ourselves. Others think about it for us" .
The Secretary of State for the Sea, Hervé Berville, in solidarity with the fishermen's movement The Secretary of State for the Sea, Hervé Berville said on Tuesday "in solidarity with the spirit of the 'dead ports' movement" launched by the fishermen and promised to "strengthen the collective work" undertaken, in particular against certain regulations Europeans.
The Secretary of State wants to "accelerate on the strategic contract for the fishing sector", launched in February and aimed at better structuring the sector, "carrying out medium-term measures such as the decarbonization of fishing vessels" but also "more immediate economic support" , in particular through "diesel aid" for fishing vessels.
Finally, Hervé Berville undertook to facilitate the "administrative daily life of fishermen" and asked that "the ongoing simplification mission be able to submit its conclusions within a month" . (GLM / Claire Louet / with AFP)
Gathered in the early evening, this Monday, March 27, under the Guilvinec fish auction, Breton fishermen decided to immediately blockade French ports.
Coming from Morbihan and Finistère, they were around 300 at the end of the afternoon. Fishermen, but also shipowners or wholesalers.
Five days after their big day of mobilisation in Rennes to protest against national and European regulations, administrative pressure and the high price of diesel, it was finally the option wanted by the Morbihannais that was chosen: immediate blockade.
Fishermen currently at sea will be able to sell their fish on their return, but no more boats will leave Breton ports.
"The wholesalers, the fishmongers are ready to follow us. We must not break this chain of solidarity," said David Le Quintrec, the Lorient fisherman behind the movement.
At the start of the meeting, the departmental fisheries committee of Finistère first echoed the decisions taken this Monday morning in Paris by the National Committee: suspension of all participation by the profession in environmental bodies such as the Marine Park of 'Iroise or Marine Protected Areas, refusal of the action plan ordering the closure at certain times of several fishing areas in the Bay of Biscay to limit accidental captures of dolphins, rejection of on-board cameras, raising of the ceilings for diesel bonuses , organization of dead sector days for Thursday and Friday.
Sea Shepherd targeted this Tuesday morning This Monday morning, the fishermen had started their day with a demonstration in front of the home of the president of Sea Shepherd France.
About fifty of them had gone to Riec-sur-Belon in Finistère in front of the house of Lamya Essemlali to protest against the actions of the NGO.
Last week, the Council of State, seized by several NGOs including Sea Shepherd, had ordered the government to close certain fishing areas in the Atlantic in order to preserve the dolphins, whose strandings in the Bay of Biscay have multiplied.
The fishermen then headed for the Concarneau auction which they wanted to close as part of an operation "dead ports". The fishing port of Lorient has already been blocked since Sunday.
Port of Lorient blocked by angry fishermen Port of Lorient blocked by angry fishermen and the fishing port of Boulogne-sur-Mer was also paralyzed by a movement of fishermen.
Two dead days Thursday and Friday in French ports The National Committee for Maritime Fisheries and Marine Farming (CNPMEM) is calling for two dead days in French ports on Thursday and Friday to demand a government response. "The cup is full and we must give a future to all the players in our sector, because today the horizon is dark ," said the CNPMEM, in a press release published on Tuesday.
The profession had expressed its anger to President Emmanuel Macron, in an open letter sent last week, demanding "a break in this avalanche of bad blows" , and claiming to be received by the head of state. Pending a response, "the CNPMEM calls on all professional representatives to suspend their participation in environmental management bodies" .
The committee specifies that the "dead port" days organized on Thursday and Friday are the result of a "unitary action" , coordinated between fishermen, fish auctions and fishmongers: "It is not a question of weakening ourselves. Others think about it for us" .
The Secretary of State for the Sea, Hervé Berville, in solidarity with the fishermen's movement The Secretary of State for the Sea, Hervé Berville said on Tuesday "in solidarity with the spirit of the 'dead ports' movement" launched by the fishermen and promised to "strengthen the collective work" undertaken, in particular against certain regulations Europeans.
The Secretary of State wants to "accelerate on the strategic contract for the fishing sector", launched in February and aimed at better structuring the sector, "carrying out medium-term measures such as the decarbonization of fishing vessels" but also "more immediate economic support" , in particular through "diesel aid" for fishing vessels.
Finally, Hervé Berville undertook to facilitate the "administrative daily life of fishermen" and asked that "the ongoing simplification mission be able to submit its conclusions within a month" . (GLM / Claire Louet / with AFP)