General election candidates in coastal communities are being asked to support a pledge to exit the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) ahead of Brexit.
The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) launched the pledge to gather momentum for its bid to restore control of UK waters.
Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of SFF, said: “We are asking voters in our coastal communities to press candidates to sign our pledge and back this important industry.
“Many candidates have already signed and we are pleased with progress, but it is important particularly in the coastal communities that we secure cross-party political support for our aims.”
SFF stated that representatives of the fishing industry believe that the UK will benefit from the industry most if it exits the CFP and that its current position means it lacks control over fishing stock within its waters.
It confirmed that candidates in all 650 parliamentary constituencies have been invited to sign the pledge ahead of the general election on 8 June.
Mr Armstrong added: “The whole industry, from those who go to sea through the processors to the hauliers, is united behind one simple aim – our coming out of the EU and the CFP.
“Brexit offers us a huge opportunity to re-assert control of our waters and to establish once and for all a sensible, practicable new fisheries management regime.
“We as an industry have repeatedly stated that we will work with the UK and Scottish governments to achieve this, and we hope that candidates will support the prospect of jobs and security for our beleaguered coastal communities by signing this pledge.”
