THE price of a fish supper is set to rise by up to 50 per cent, the fishing industry has warned.
The soaring cost of diesel is to blame as trawlermen pass the hike on to consumers.
A report by the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) found marine diesel has almost doubled in price from 31p to 60p a litre in the last year.
With further fuel price rises on the cards, Seafish reckon the cost of a fish supper will rocket from s5 to s7.50 by the end of 2009.
And it's not just fish suppers - all locally caught fish and shellfish will go up in price again.
Philip MacMullen, head of environment at Seafish, said: "Consumers must be prepared for significant increases in the cost of seafood."
And he warned that with crude oil prices soaring, fishermen will go bust.
He said: "It's also likely that if current trends continue we will see fishing decrease overall and, possibly, the number of boats fishing in UK waters decline."
Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, agreed and added: "We are utterly dependent on fuel - no fuel, no fish.
"Over the last 10 years, fuel prices have been ramped up slowly but it has now got to an uncomfortable level and is threatening the viability of the sector.
"If everything is left to its own devices, then supply will decrease as boats can't afford to go to sea."
The National Federation of Fish Friers also painted a bleak picture.
President David Audley said: "One of the advantages we have had is that when restaurant prices rise, fish and chips were a cheap alternative."
The soaring cost of diesel is to blame as trawlermen pass the hike on to consumers.
A report by the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) found marine diesel has almost doubled in price from 31p to 60p a litre in the last year.
With further fuel price rises on the cards, Seafish reckon the cost of a fish supper will rocket from s5 to s7.50 by the end of 2009.
And it's not just fish suppers - all locally caught fish and shellfish will go up in price again.
Philip MacMullen, head of environment at Seafish, said: "Consumers must be prepared for significant increases in the cost of seafood."
And he warned that with crude oil prices soaring, fishermen will go bust.
He said: "It's also likely that if current trends continue we will see fishing decrease overall and, possibly, the number of boats fishing in UK waters decline."
Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, agreed and added: "We are utterly dependent on fuel - no fuel, no fish.
"Over the last 10 years, fuel prices have been ramped up slowly but it has now got to an uncomfortable level and is threatening the viability of the sector.
"If everything is left to its own devices, then supply will decrease as boats can't afford to go to sea."
The National Federation of Fish Friers also painted a bleak picture.
President David Audley said: "One of the advantages we have had is that when restaurant prices rise, fish and chips were a cheap alternative."
roud:
