The UK Parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is inviting evidence on how potential changes to the fisheries and seafood trading arrangements between the UK and the EU will affect fishermen, seafood processors, consumers, coastal communities and the environment.
According to the Committee, the UK government has confirmed that when the UK leaves the European Union it will also withdraw from the Common Fisheries Policy and the London Fisheries Convention. UK fisheries are currently managed under the Common Fisheries Policy, which covers fisheries management, funding, market organisation, and management of tariffs.
On 15 November, the Committee took oral evidence on the future of UK Fisheries and the impact of Brexit. Following that session, the Committee wishes to examine in depth some of the potential changes to fisheries and seafood trading arrangements following the UK’s exit from the EU, and how these will affect fishers, seafood processors, consumers, coastal communities and the environment.
‘Fishing has huge historical and cultural significance far beyond its economic contribution to UK GDP,’ commented Neil Parish MP, Chair of the Committee.
‘It is also crucial to many coastal communities, providing sizeable employment opportunities for several of the UK’s coastal regions. We will be examining the impact of Brexit on UK fishers and seafood processors ahead of publication of the Government’s White Paper and Fisheries Bill.’
The Committee invites evidence from interested parties by 27 November. Written evidence can be submitted through the fisheries inquiry page.
The key questions which the Committee will consider are:
What are the key issues the Government should address within their White Paper on UK fisheries?
What challenges and opportunities will UK Fisheries face from new fishing and trade arrangements with EU countries after the UK leaves the European Union, Common Fisheries Policy and London Fisheries Convention?
What stock management objectives should the Government establish in order to achieve the right balance between the interests of seafood consumers, fishers, seafood processors and the environment?
What trade policy objectives should the Government establish in order to achieve the right balance between the interests of consumers, fishers, seafood processors, and the environment?
How effective are the Government’s arrangements for representing the interests of the UK’s constituent nations within the UK’s negotiations for fisheries?R39;
