July 24, 2026 — With the conflict in the Middle East escalating, global oil prices again topped more than $100 a barrel Thursday, and the high cost for diesel continues taking a toll in Gloucester, where commercial fishing and boating remain central to the local economy.
At Rose’s Marine, a longtime marine supply store serving in the city, employee Archie MacLeod Jr., a former commercial fisherman, said fuel costs have become one of the biggest concerns among the local fishermen supplying seafood across New England.
“2026 has been a tough year”
“They’re ridiculous. You know, the fuel prices, especially for diesel, which is one of the main fuels that runs the country, whether it’s trucking or fishing or any industry, really, they’re really high, and it’s really hard for guys to go out and make a living,” MacLeod said.
“You’re traveling 200 miles sometimes from shore, and all that fuel needs to be paid for. And a lot of times, you don’t make a paycheck until you pay for the fuel, you know, and the other expenses you have, so it’s a big thing that you have to deal with,” MacLeod added. “2026 has been a tough year.”
According to AAA, the national average price for a gallon of diesel is more than $5.20, up more than $2.65 from a year ago.
“Unfortunately for the fishermen, it’s just another obstacle that they have to face,” said Captain Jim Douglass, who owns Gloucester-based Cape Ann Whale Watch. “Fishing’s tough. Maintaining the boat’s tough, and now to have the extra price of fuel on top of that? Yeah, it’s making it hard for them.”