In a more carefully-worded response that those given by Scottish Federations, the NFFO has registered its disappointment with the outcome of the deal struck between the UK and the EU and its implications for the fishing industry.
‘Giving the EU twelve years of guaranteed access to UK waters up to the six-mile inshore limit gives away the best card that we still had in our hand in fisheries discussions with Europe,’ an NFFO representative commented.
‘This surrenders the best prospect that the fishing industry and coastal communities had for growth over the coming decade. We had reason to believe that our government understood the economic, symbolic and conservation value of reclaiming exclusive access for UK boats to our territorial waters within 12 miles of the coast. Clearly, however, they did not value such things as much as their European counterparts.’
The NFFO accepts that there may be benefits for producers of farmed shellfish and salmon, as well as the biggest retailers and exporters, but states that it ‘is very unlikely that any savings from reduced export costs will be passed down to the men and women who go to sea.’
‘If the Government has a plan to ensure these cost savings go down the supply chain, we are eager to hear it and happy to work with them on it,’ the NFFO’s representative commented.
The Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association (SPFA) hasn’t held back in branding the agreement ‘an utter betrayal of the promises made to us on Brexit and the benefits it would bring to fishing, including control of our own waters.’
‘It beggars belief that this has been extended to 12 years, which ties the hands of future UK governments in negotiations,’ said Ian Gatt, chief executive of the SPFA, which represents Scottish mackerel, herring and blue whiting fishing operators.
‘This has been a terrible negotiation carried out by the UK, and which shows a complete indifference to the fortunes of our fishing communities, as well as our national food security,’ he said.
Scottish Fishermen’s Federation chief executive Elspeth Macdonald has called the deal ‘a horror show for Scottish fishermen, far worse than Boris Johnson’s botched Brexit agreement.’
‘It is clear that Sir Keir Starmer made the whole deal on the backs of our fishermen and coastal communities, granting EU vessels 12 years of continuous access to UK waters at the last minute in order secure other objectives,’ she said.
