Danish fishermen may soon be forced to stay in port due to soaring diesel prices

Rising diesel costs following US strikes on Iran are threatening to ground Danish fishing vessels, according to a report by DR.

Alfred Fisker Hansen, chair of Thyborøn Harbour Fishermen’s Association, warned that current fuel prices are making fishing operations unsustainable. “It’s obvious—this undermines the very foundation of the fishing we do. It’s extreme,” he said.

Diesel prices surged by nearly 70% from February to March. The European fishing industry association Europêche reports that some fishermen in Italy, Spain, and France have already stopped sailing due to fuel costs.

“The situation is critical. Our fishermen are losing money, and we need immediate action from EU and national governments to offset these losses,” said Daniel Voces de Onaíndi, managing director of Europêche.

Italy, Spain, and France have introduced measures to ease the financial burden on fishermen. Hansen argued that EU-wide solutions are necessary to ensure fair competition. “This is an acute crisis for an entire sector. If we want equal conditions, there must be uniform rules for fishermen across the EU,” he said.

The European Commission recently proposed AccelerateEU, a framework allowing member states to provide emergency aid to hard-hit industries, including transport and fishing. However, Denmark’s political deadlock—with no sitting government—complicates immediate action.

“With the current political situation, we can’t make quick decisions. But this is an urgent issue for an entire industry,” Hansen said.

While Danish fishermen are exempt from CO₂ taxes until 2029, Hansen stressed that this does not address the current fuel crisis. “There is no alternative—we rely on diesel,” he said.

Attempts to reach acting fisheries minister Jacob Jensen (V) for comment were unsuccessful.