FISH and chip shop owners across Dorset have expressed concern for their industry following 'bonkers' price increases.

This comes as the war in Ukraine affects oil and fish supplies and costs. This is because 40% of the white fish that comes into the country is from Russian vessels and the majority of the world's crops for sunflower oil is grown in Ukraine.

The fears also stem from energy prices increasing.

The harsh price increases, which have seen the cost of fish increase by 40%, has meant fish and chip shop owners have had to pass the increases onto the customer.

Craig Johnson from Marlboro Fish and Chips on St Thomas Street, Weymouth said: “Fish prices have virtually gone up by 40% in the last couple of weeks, so it’s really affecting us.

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“Everything is being squeezed. We will unfortunately have to put our prices up and the customer will suffer. We haven’t had to put our prices up for three years and they’ve had to go up twice in two weeks now.

“It’s really sad for our loyal customers, it’s just bonkers how much it’s gone up.”

Marlboro Fish and Chips are not alone. Fish n Fritz on Market Street admit they are not only affected by the price increase of fish and oil but also energy.

Owner Paul Hays said: “Oil and fish is our main stay and prices have gone through the roof the last few weeks.

“I know there’s a shortage of liquid oil such as sunflower but we don’t use that, so we’re not affected in the way of a shortage, but it does affect the price of other oils, when you take away one option it increases the price on the next.

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“We’ve had to increase our prices. People that supply to us have increased theirs and that comes down to us. Gas and electricity have also gone through the roof. Unfortunately for me gas is my fuel, that’s what propels my fryers.

“We’ve noticed the pinch, but we can only pass on so much to the customer, we’re all trying to survive really. It is affecting us all and it will affect many more. Unfortunately, some very small business will fall by the wayside.

“We’re just going to try and ride it out, we will look at it sensibly and hope that it’s a short-term thing and maybe just maybe by the end of the summer we may see prices start to come down.”

Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers hope people will continue to support their local fish and chip shop.

He said: “We’re a resilient industry and we’ll adapt. Not everybody will get through it but we’ll do what we can. Shops may diversify or use different species of fish, but we hope the consumers will continue to eat fish and chips – they’re so iconic and part of the fabric of the nation.”