Organisations across the UK fishing industry met recently in Manchester to take stock of the UK’s exit negotiations with the EU and to agree the elements of a campaign to hold the Government to account on its commitments to the fishing industry.
A spokesperson said the group will assess the Government’s commitment to being an independent coastal state on whether the UK has both the legal status, and the freedom to act, as an independent coastal state; whether UK catching opportunities broadly reflect the fish and shellfish resources located within UK waters; whether the UK has a mutually beneficial trade regime with as few impediments as possible for all UK fishery products; and whether there is scope to develop a domestic fisheries regime tailored to the contours of the UK fleet, based on sound scientific advice and principles of sustainability.
Badly treated
The spokesperson said: “In many respects, fishing is a litmus test for Brexit. People well beyond the confines of the fishing industry are aware of how badly our industry has been treated and will be looking closely at the final deal presented to Parliament for a meaningful vote. A betrayal would be heavily punished politically.
“For these reasons we will be campaigning in the coming months to reinforce the key message that there must be no repeat of 1973; no repeat of the sell-out that has denied us the benefits of an independent coastal state for 40 years.”
In a joint statement this week, Bertie Armstrong of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) and Barrie Deas of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) stated: “The EU’s stated preference for a free trade deal in return for access to fish in UK waters and quota shares is an absurd attempt to maintain the current unbalanced arrangement which results in 60% of the UK’s natural fish resources being given away.”
The statement said the Government’s negotiating achievements against three criteria: Actual as well as legal authority over all fishing activities within the UK EEZ; fisheries management decisions on shared stocks made through annual bilateral/trilateral agreements; and free and frictionless trade in fish and fisheries products.
