Fishing vessel of the UK. (Photo: Stock File)
If opportunities are seized, Brexit to favour seafood sector, Scottish leader states
UNITED KINGDOM
Thursday, June 07, 2018, 01:00 (GMT + 9)
The new report on the post-brexit UK seafood industries, published by the Scottish Government, highlights the importance for the UK to operate as a legally-constituted independent coastal state without being compromised by any concessions agreed as part of the EU exit deal, states a Scottish fisheries sector leader.
“This report simply underlines the importance of the UK regaining sovereignty over its own waters and becoming an independent Coastal State with the powers to control access and fishing opportunity”, pointed out Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) chief executive Bertie Armstrong.
"For Scotland that could be worth an additional GBP 540 million in income and create 5,000 more jobs in the sector," he added.
“Any other course of action would be harmful to the fishing industry and, given its importance to coastal communities (again as highlighted in the report), that would be totally unacceptable,” the leader stated.
Armstrong recognises the existence of challenges in securing these aims but he stresses that in light of the potential bonanza, fishermen would urge "politicians of all parties to press both the UK and Scottish governments to work together to support the aims and objectives of the fishing industry.”
“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 per cent of the UK’s natural fish resources being given away. Acceptance of such an unprecedented and unprincipled link by UK negotiators would be regarded by the entire UK fishing industry as a gross betrayal," argue the SFF leader and Barrie Deas of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) in a statement.
On trade, the federations emphasised that supply chains within the UK and the EU are best served by free, unimpeded trade.
The SFF and NFFO statement concluded:
“The whole UK fishing industry and its many friends among the general public and in the world of politics, will measure 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 agreements and free and frictionless trade in fish and fisheries products.”
Related article:
- Brexit could damage Scottish seafood industries’ trade
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