FISHERMEN BLOCK PORTS

PARIS, SEPTEMBER 17 /SRNA-Reuters/ – Fishermen blocked access to ports in southern France in protest over high energy costs.

They blocked the port of Nice and several smaller ports, as protests along the Mediterranean coast over high fuel prices entered their third day.

Nice Mayor Eric Ciotti visited the port on Thursday and expressed support for the fishermen, saying he understood their frustration.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Wednesday, amid mounting pressure, extended emergency fuel subsidies for the agriculture, fishing and construction sectors through the end of the year.

The port blockades are the latest in a series of protests that have swept France since the beginning of the week, with workers in sectors ranging from energy to the police taking industrial action over issues including wages and high fuel prices.