Villajoyosa fishermen warn rising fuel costs are making fishing unsustainable

The fishing industry in Villajoyosa is warning that rapidly rising diesel prices are putting the future of the local fleet under increasing pressure.

The Fishermen’s Guild of Villajoyosa has raised the alarm over the cost of fuel, saying the latest increases are making it increasingly difficult for boats to operate profitably.

The problem is particularly serious for trawlers, which require large quantities of fuel during each fishing trip. According to figures from the guild, a trawler can bring in an average of around €1,500 from a day’s catch, while consuming as much as 1,000 litres of diesel.

At the current price cited by the guild, fuel alone can therefore cost up to €1,200 for a single day at sea.

That leaves very little of the day’s income to cover the many other expenses involved in keeping a fishing boat operating.

Fishermen face shrinking earnings

Miguel Felipe Solbes, head of the Villajoyosa Fishermen’s Guild, said the sector had managed to absorb previous increases in fuel prices but had now reached a point where the costs were becoming unsustainable.

Fuel is only one part of the financial burden facing the fleet. Boats must also cover expenses including social security contributions, food supplies, oil, maintenance and other running costs.

Once these expenses have been deducted, the remaining income from the catch is divided between the boat owner and crew.

This means that rising fuel prices do not simply affect the profitability of individual vessels. They can also directly reduce the amount earned by the fishermen working on board.

The guild says some fishing trips are already reaching the point where they are no longer profitable and can effectively result in boats going to sea at a loss.

Calls for urgent action

The Fishermen’s Guild is calling for measures to reduce the impact of fuel prices and protect the future of the local fishing industry.

Its message is that fishermen want to continue working and keep their boats at sea, but need conditions that allow the businesses and jobs connected to the industry to survive.

The concern is that continued increases could eventually force some vessels to remain in port because going fishing would cost more than the income generated.

Villajoyosa currently has 35 fishing boats, with 27 specialising in trawling and a further eight operating with nets.

The warning comes as maritime fuel prices remain high across the Alicante coast. Recent fuel-price data recorded maritime diesel at Villajoyosa’s fishing port at around €1.018 per litre in August, although prices vary over time and according to the type of fuel.

For the guild, the priority is to find a solution before rising operating costs force more boats out of the water.

Without action, it warns, the economic pressure could ultimately threaten both the future of the fleet and the livelihoods of the people who depend on it.