British vacationers are stranded after French fishermen blockade ports in gas protest
British tourists have been left stranded on Corsica after angry fishermen blockaded the island’s ports in a row over soaring diesel costs.
Boats sealed off key harbours including Ajaccio, Bastia, Porto-Vecchio and Bonifacio, stopping ferries and cruise ships departing and leaving travellers scrambling to find a way home.
The disruption began early Tuesday when fishermen launched coordinated action at dawn, later joined by farmers who blocked major roads across the island, worsening the travel chaos.
Holidaymakers have been left in limbo as crossings were cancelled with little warning and no clear alternatives offered, forcing many to chase last-minute routes between ports.
One frustrated British couple told the Express: ‘We’re getting sick of having no news and then running around trying to find a crossing.
‘While there are worse places in the world to be stuck than Corsica, we do really want to get home.
‘We need to go back to work. My husband has had to cancel his work.’
But French fishermen insisted: ‘We won’t budge.’
British tourists have been left stranded on Corsica after angry fishermen blockaded the island’s ports in a row over soaring diesel costs. Pictured: Ajaccio’s fishermen block the entry of the port and force Corsica Linea ferry to stand by in the Bay on April 7
Boats sealed off key harbours including Ajaccio, Bastia, Porto-Vecchio and Bonifacio, stopping ferries and cruise ships departing and leaving travellers scrambling to find a way home
The disruption began early Tuesday when fishermen launched coordinated action at dawn, later joined by farmers who blocked major roads across the island, worsening the travel chaos
Holidaymakers have been left in limbo as crossings were cancelled with little warning and no clear alternatives offered, forcing many to chase last-minute routes between ports
One frustrated British couple said: ‘We’re getting sick of having no news and then running around trying to find a crossing’
Passengers of the Corsica Ferry wait on the boat as Ajaccio’s fishermen block the entry of the port of Ajacccio, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica, on April 7
Passengers were advised to travel between ports in search of sailings, only to find services cancelled again, leaving some stuck overnight or forced to rebook multiple times.
With sea routes paralysed, demand for flights surged, with last-minute fares climbing sharply and leaving some unable to secure a way off the island.
The blockade also forced cruise ships to abandon scheduled stops, with one liner turning away after being warned it could dock but would not be allowed to leave.
Fishermen say they have been pushed to the brink by spiralling fuel costs, which have surged in recent weeks, hitting small-scale operators particularly hard.
A union representative warned: ‘We’re at rock bottom. We’re really struggling to survive.’
The protest has been fuelled by a sharp rise in diesel prices, with costs nearly doubling in a matter of weeks, as global energy markets were shaken by conflict in the Middle East and disruption to key oil routes.
Fishermen on the island say they are being hit harder than those on mainland France and have staged repeated protests in recent months.
The action has also drawn support from farmers, who say they face similar pressures as fuel costs eat into already tight margins.
Corsica, a major Mediterranean tourist hotspot that attracts millions of visitors each year, has seen its transport network thrown into disarray at the start of the holiday season.
Some travellers due to visit the island are now seeking cancellations, while others already there remain stuck waiting for crossings to resume.
Talks between officials and industry figures have led to an agreement to reduce fuel profit margins, with compensation measures also discussed.
However disruption is expected to continue in the short term, despite plans to begin lifting the blockade.
