With the likely date for Brexit fast approaching, the European Fisheries Alliance (EUFA) has received fresh assurances from European Union Chief Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier that he is supportive of the E.U. fleet and committed to achieving a balanced agreement that lays the foundation for a strong future relationship.
At a meeting in Brussels on 25 September, EUFA and Barnier reiterated that only a strong link between fisheries and the wider trade relationship could do justice to the complex reality of the fishing sector. Barnier further stated that the industry’s natural interdependence meant that cooperation on mutual access to waters, fisheries resources, and markets was the only way forward to ensure continued sustainable fishing and the prosperity of all fleets.
But EUFA also stressed that with continued uncertainty in London, fishermen in the E.U. should be ready for all eventualities.
“If the U.K. leaves without an agreement and should this lead to disruption in access to fishing grounds that we have shared with British colleagues for centuries, the consequences will be grave,” EUFA said in a statement. “A challenge of this magnitude requires a determined and united response by the European Commission, the member states and the fishing industry.”
Barnier outlined the ongoing efforts that the European Commission is making in this regard, while highlighting that any short-term effect of a disorderly withdrawal would set the tone for talks on the future E.U.-U.K. relationship.
EUFA Chairman Gerard van Balsfoort expressed gratitude to Barnier for his continued support, and warned that legal uncertainty at sea would have “grave consequences” for the sustainability of fish stocks shared between the E.U. and the United Kingdom, and the economic future of fishing fleets.
“Fishermen must not be left empty-handed or fall foul of short-term political goals,” he said. “The current joint fisheries management framework is working and has greatly improved sustainability of the shared fish stocks. It is in our joint interest to uphold it until a new long-term framework is in place. We are convinced that we can continue to share fish, fishing grounds and markets after Brexit, to the benefit of all.”
Seán O’Donoghue, chief executive of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation, who was part of the EUFA delegation, said he was very pleased with the frank and very constructive exchange of views.
“There is a deep appreciation by Mr. Barnier and his team of the major issues facing the industry in both a ‘deal’ and ‘no deal’ scenario. We emphasized that even if the withdrawal agreement and/or the political declaration were to be amended in this final phase, the close linkage between fisheries and the wider trade relationship is essential. Mr Barnier fully supported this linkage,” he said. “Negotiating our future relationship in fisheries in the overall context of the Future Trade Agreement (FTA) is of paramount importance to maintain existing access to fishing waters and existing resource allocations and must therefore be addressed in the overall political context.”
O’Donoghue also cautioned that should Irish and other E.U. fleets be denied access to U.K. waters after midnight on 31 October, there would be “flashpoints all across Europe in the Irish Sea, North West of Donegal, off the South East Coast of Ireland, the English Channel and in the North Sea in scenes potentially reminiscent of the cod wars of the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘70s.”
Established shortly after the U.K. vote to exit the E.U. and with current members including fisher organizations from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Sweden, EUFA accounts for more than 18,000 fishermen and 3,500 vessels, with an annual turnover of EUR 20.7 billion (USD 22.6 billion).
Photo courtesy of the European Fisheries Alliance
