Scottish fishing fleet not ‘expendable’ in EU talks, says trade body

Scotland’s fishing industry must not be regarded as “expendable” in negotiations with the EU, the group representing fisherman has told Sir Keir Starmer.

The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) said the 2020 Brexit deal had resulted in countries from the bloc getting “unfettered” access to UK waters.

The industry body wrote to the Prime Minister ahead of expected trade talks between the UK and EU.

Sir Keir has vowed to “reset” relations with the EU and reduce trade barriers.

Elspeth Macdonald, SFF chief executive, said: “The Scottish fishing industry has twice in the past been regarded as expendable by British prime ministers when it comes to Europe.”

She continued: “We must not have a repeat of 1973 when the condition of entry to the EEC was that our richly endowed fishing waters be pooled with other members, or of 2020 when the Brexit agreement, while restoring the UK to the status of sovereign coastal state, granted continued access to our waters to EU vessels to catch far more fish in our waters than they catch in their own.”

Ms Macdonald said the SFF’s preference is not for a long-term access agreement with the EU but annual negotiations.

In addition, she said the EU fleet should pay to access UK waters.

She added: “While there are many provisions within the law about how coastal states should co-operate with their neighbours and how resources are managed, the 2020 Brexit deal left the UK in a situation that no other independent coastal state would countenance – giving unfettered access to another’s fishing fleet.

“This is why the EU catches around seven times more fish by value in UK waters than the UK catches in EU waters every year.

“Its fishing fleet is highly dependent on access to UK waters; in contrast, over 85% of UK catches are taken from our own waters. Reciprocal access is heavily loaded in the EU’s favour.”