French fishermen have taken very direct action in protest at record fuel costs. The oil price is rising as fast as their profits are falling, and they say millions of euros in government aid would not be enough to compensate them. Eric Loir, a protesting fisherman, said: "If this goes on for weeks, there will be more serious action and it will cost money, but if this is what they want, we will do it, we have had enough."

In Brittany, fishermen felt compelled to commit daylight robbery, seizing imported and french produce alike at a supermarket. They are ignoring union calls for an end to a national fishing strike, insisting the price of diesel must go down by almost half.

Albert Chaussée, director of the supermarket Leclerc of Plérin, said:

"These people live thanks to us! For the last 20 years we have been buying their fish!"

They did not flee far with their booty. Instead they handed it all away to motorists in the car park. There were similar scenes throughout France. Fishermen have also blockaded ports and oil refineries nationwide.