MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Scotland complains EU/UK deal means broken promises to the fishing industry

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon warned of broken promises over fishing as EU leaders agreed to Theresa May's Brexit deal

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon has warned of broken promises overfishing as EU leaders agreed to Theresa May's Brexit deal. A document published by the remaining 27 EU countries made clear they hoped to negotiate access to UK waters based on existing rights.

Ms Sturgeon said that could not be squared with promises made to the UK fishing industry. Theresa May has said her deal would take the UK out of the controversial Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

The prime minister and EU27 leaders approved the Brexit deal on Sunday after less than an hour's discussion at a meeting in Brussels. But a document published online made clear the remaining EU members were still seeking to negotiate continued access to UK fishing grounds during the two-year transition period.

The document said a fishing deal was a priority and “should build on, inter alia, existing reciprocal access and quota shares”.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell has previously said he could not support any extension of CFP rules beyond 2020.

Ms Sturgeon tweeted: “I'll be interested to hear David Mundell explain how this - 'existing reciprocal access and quota shares' - can be squared with the promises made to the Scottish fishing industry.”

The Brexit deal has implications for the debate over Scottish independence and the future of fishing. The withdrawal agreement does not let Scottish Conservatives off the hook over the fishing industry.

All 13 Scottish Tory MPs demanded exit from the common fisheries policy by 2020 and insisted “access and quota shares cannot be included” in the future economic partnership.

Both the UK and EU say they'll use “best endeavors” to conclude a new fisheries agreement by 2020 but the EU has certainly not given up on keeping its current share of the UK catch.

A statement agreed by the EU27 makes clear they will prioritize an agreement that builds on “existing reciprocal access and quota shares”. In short, the fight over fishing is deferred.

Mr Mundell later responded, saying any future deal on fishing had still to be agreed, and that the prime minister had made clear she would defend the UK's fishing interests robustly.

He tweeted: “The Prime Minister made clear earlier today, the UK will be an independent coastal state once again, in full sovereign control of our waters, able to decide for ourselves who we allow to fish in them, with that access not tied to any other aspect of our economic partnership.”