KADES HIT THE BALEARICS

By Humphrey Carter YESTERDAY'S blockade of Spanish ports by angry fishermen left thousands of passengers and hundreds of tonnes of Balearic-bound cargo stranded and prompted President Jaume Matas to make an official complaint to Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. In protest over this year's near 50 percent rise in fuel prices, fishing fleets across Spain launched their nation-wide protests late on Monday night and by yesterday morning, nearly every port in Spain was blocked with Balearic fishing fleets still deliberating whether to join industrial action or not. But, even without their participation, blockades outside the ports of Valencia, Denia and Barcelona - the three main ports which service the Balearics, passenger and merchant shipping to and from the Balearics was brought to a halt with thousands of passengers left stranded in all destinations and with tonnes of cargo left on the dockside. Palma has been able to accept shipping diverted from other ports. The cruise ship Costa Magica which was due to pick up passengers in Barcelona, docked in Palma yesterday with the cruise company flying passengers into Palma to board their cruise ship. Others, especially ferry passengers have had their ferries cancelled. Merchant shipping is a lifeline for the Balearics and a lengthy industrial protest will lead to serious problems, the small to medium sized business sector said yesterday. Balearic President Jaume Matas, deeply concerned about the effects a long term dispute could have on the Balearics, spoke to the Prime Minister yesterday. Matas asked Zapatero to do everything possible to ease the effects of the blockades while also offering his help in trying to reach a solution as quickly as possible. Matas spent most of yesterday morning talking to shipping industry chiefs in the Balearics about providing alternative travel arrangements for ferry passengers. The Balearics escaped unscathed from last week's road transport strike. Not only because it was short-lived, but also 50 percent of the region's fruit, veg and meat is grown and produced in the Balearics. However, a crippled shipping industry will cause problems and could also lead to an increase in fuel prices should fuel deposits start to run low. Two fuel tankers bound for the Balearics were cancelled yesterday. Iscomar, which accounts for 35 percent of merchant shipping to the Balearics, was yesterday forced to cancel five crossings. A spokesperson for the company described shipping between the islands and the mainland as “fatal.” Only one of its ships managed to dock in Palma early yesterday morning. Baleária were still hoping that some of their delayed fast ferries would set sail from Denia to Ibiza and Palma. Mercapalma, Palma's main food storage depot said that the first effects will be experienced today with imported fruits and veg expected to run out along with seafood from northern Spain.