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UK fishermen cheer Brexit: they could recover £ 400 million of fish and shellfish caught by EU vessels

Wednesday, October 12th 2016 - 11:31 UTC
Full article 28 comments
Dr Ian Napier’s report explains that more than half of the fish caught in British waters between 2012 and 2014 were taken by foreign fishing boats. Dr Ian Napier’s report explains that more than half of the fish caught in British waters between 2012 and 2014 were taken by foreign fishing boats.

Scottish fishermen have welcomed the publication of a report revealing the full extent of catches by foreign vessels in UK waters. Published by NAFC Marine Centre UHI in Shetland, and based on the European Commission’s most recent data, Dr Ian Napier’s report explains that more than half of the fish caught in British waters between 2012 and 2014 were taken by foreign fishing boats.

 Some 58% of the fish and shellfish landed from the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) were caught by other EU countries.

This equates to around 650,000 tons of fish and shellfish, worth more than £400 million each year. In contrast, UK fishing boats fishing elsewhere in EU waters, landed on average 90,000 tons of fish and shellfish, worth about £100 million.

Non-UK EU boats caught seven times more fish in UK waters than UK boats caught in the waters surrounding other EU countries. Half of all the demersal fish and two thirds of the pelagic fish caught in our fishing waters were caught by boats from EU countries other than the UK.

More than three-quarters of the sole, hake and herring, and more than half of the megrim, plaice and saithe caught in British waters was taken by other European fishing boats.

However, exit from the EU will enable the UK to assert control over its 200-mile EEZ, which means that foreign vessels could not then fish in the zone without express consent.

Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, said: ‘This detailed analysis of these landing figures is a bombshell that reveals the truly shocking extent of how our rich fishing grounds have been given away in recent decades.

‘Brexit provides a sea of opportunity to breathe new life into our coastal communities by ensuring increased catching opportunities and fit for purpose management within our own EEZ.

‘The UK and Scottish governments must take heed of the startling figures contained within this report and work together as a team to ensure that the best possible deal is reached for our hardworking fishermen.

‘It would be a monumental betrayal of our coastal communities if this opportunity was traded away in the forthcoming Brexit negotiations.

‘Brexit has the real potential to turn Scotland into a world leading sustainable seafood harvesting and exporting nation.’

Shetland Fishermen’s Association executive officer Simon Collins said: ‘The report shows just how strong a bargaining position we have. We should deny access to our rich and productive fishing grounds to any country not prepared to offer something in return, and by that I mean fairer shares of scientifically agreed quotas.

‘We urge the UK and Scottish governments to use their strength in this area to restore pride and dynamism to an industry so cynically sacrificed upon EU entry all those years ago.’

 

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  • Clyde15

    Voice
    What you are saying is that you don't give a toss as long as it doesn't hit your pocket. So, if a UK business is closed down, moved over seas to cheepo land and people lose their jobs that's OK ?

    As an aside, why have they made a balls up of this site ? It's almost impossible to follow now with things randomly appearing all over the screen

    Oct 13th, 2016 - 09:47 am +4
  • DemonTree

    Looks like Tesco have reached an agreement with Unilever and Marmite is now back. Doesn't say how much the prices will rise though.

    Unfortunately inflation is inevitable given the fall in the pound, it is predicted to reach 3% by the end of this year and 4% in 2017. Then if we have tariffs, which now seems likely, things will get even worse.

    All the Brexiters are still in denial though, and will no doubt find someone else to blame soon enough.

    Oct 13th, 2016 - 10:48 pm +4
  • DemonTree

    Haha, interest rates are currently at .25%, so raising them to 5% would be a massive overkill!

    The guy in charge of setting the interest rate, Mark Carney, has already said he is willing to tolerate some excess inflation in order to avoid increasing unemployment. Inflation caused by the falling pound should be temporary anyway so it's not as necessary to do something about it.

    But if inflation does get too high to tolerate, the Bank of England *will* raise the rates.

    Our current government does follow the sort of economic theories the IMF preaches. They're happy to privatise public services, encourage free trade and impose austerity policies. Britain also experimented with a fixed exchange rate in the 90's by joining the ERM; it was a disaster, and the main reason we later stayed out of the Euro.

    In fact many of Britain's privatised rail franchises are now run by state owned companies from other parts of Europe, so the profits go to other countries where they are used to improve public transport there. I have no idea how this makes any sense.

    Oct 15th, 2016 - 09:55 am +4
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