French fishermen step up protest over fuel costs

BORDEAUX, France, May 18 (Reuters) - French fishermen prolonged their blockade of La Rochelle port on Sunday in a protest over rising fuel costs that comes as President Nicolas Sarkozy prepares for a week of nationwide demonstrations.

Fishermen said they had blocked the ports of Chef de Baie, Rochelle's Old Port and the Minimes port in western France.

Earlier in the week, fishermen had also cut off access to the nearby Atlantic ports at Ile d'Oleron and La Cotiniere.

Record oil prices of more than $120 a barrel have led to higher fuel costs for fishermen, impacting their profit margins.

French truckers have also protested over the situation and staged demonstrations in southern France last week.

Fishermen forced Sarkozy to increase aid to the fishing industry last November after blocking off various ports and oil depots during a six-day strike.

However, they say this has proved insufficient since the cost of fuel has continued to rise.

French Agriculture Minister Michel Barnier has said that the state has already handed over 30 million euros ($46.4 million) of aid to the fishing industry this year, with another 23 million on the way.

On Thursday, teachers and students are due to hold a nationwide demonstration over Sarkozy's plans to cut jobs in the education sector. The cuts are part of broader reforms by the right-wing government to boost the French economy.

(Reporting by Claude Canellas, editing by Myra MacDonald)