CAMPAIGNERS urged Gordon Brown yesterday to fund a £30 million recovery package to aid the declining fishing industry. The Cod Crusaders, a group founded by fishermen’s wives, have been granted a meeting with the Chancellor later this week to discuss the future of the industry. They claim that the loss of revenue generated by the decline in fishing is £1.5 billion.

Last year, Mr Brown pledged a £10 million package to help the ailing industry, which has suffered after fishing quotas were reduced. But the campaigners said yesterday that the money was not enough and now plan to argue the case for a £30 million transitional aid package to be equally divided between fishing communities who have accumulated large debts.

Carol MacDonald, who is a founder of the Cod Crusaders and will meet Mr Brown, said: “It gets harder and harder for us each year, we are struggling to survive.”

“The Government has pledged so much money abroad this year but what about poverty in Britain? So many other industries have collapsed in this country and it’s all down to government negligence.”

Mrs MacDonald, of Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire, will be accompanied to the meeting by Alex Salmond, the Scottish National Party leader, and members of the United Fishing Industry Alliance. The Cod Crusaders also said yesterday that they would stop campaigning if they failed to strike a deal with the Chancellor. Mrs MacDonald, whose campaign uniform is a tartan kilt and a T-shirt, said: “There ’s an awful lot riding on this one and it could be the last time we put our outfits on.”

She started the group almost three years ago as the Scottish fishing industry entered one of the most turbulent periods in its long history. Severe quotas were imposed on cod and haddock fishing and boats were only allowed to go to sea for 15 days a month. Industry leaders feared that the fleet would be wiped out. As they watched husbands, friends and family struggle to keep their jobs, Mrs MacDonald and her friends decided to form the group and have subsequently lobbied politicians all over the world.

The group presented a 152,000-name petition to the Scottish Parliament — the biggest ministers had seen. They have also written to President Bush and have met EU officials in Brussels. Tony Blair has refused to meet the Cod Crusaders, so they were pleased when Mr Brown agreed to meet them.

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