The United Kingdom’s proposed fisheries policy for introduction once the country leaves the European Union and becomes an independent coastal state has been met with general approval, with the exception of the Scottish government.
The U.K. government’s White Paper, "“Sustainable Fisheries for Future Generations,” outlined how powers to be proposed in the Fisheries Bill, which will be introduced in this session of parliament, will give the country full control of its waters and the ability to set its own fishing opportunities.
Highlighting that E.U. member states currently land around eight times as much fish in U.K. waters than the U.K. fleet does in E.U. waters, the paper sets out how the United Kingdom will move toward a fairer share of fishing opportunities. It also proposes measures to improve the sustainability of the fishing industry, supporting the next generation of fishermen while protecting the marine environment.
On the launch of the paper, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May said the plans demonstrated the “bright future in store” as the country builds a fishing industry for future generations by putting a healthy marine environment at its heart.
“I have been clear that when we leave the E.U., we will take back control of our waters, while ensuring we don’t see our fishermen unfairly denied access to other waters,” May said.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove added that leaving the E.U. would create “a sea of opportunity” for the fishing industry and the scope to revitalize coastal communities.
“We will be able to put in place our own systems, becoming a world leader in managing our resources while protecting the marine environment,” he said. “We will work closely with everyone who has an interest in this important industry to make the most of this historic opportunity.”
The White Paper sets out a number of methods to explore a “fairer allocation” of fishing opportunities, such as zonal attachment, which is based on distribution of fish stocks, rather than historical data.
It also commits to publishing an annual statement setting out the health of fish stocks and based on the latest scientific evidence. If stocks are struggling, the four U.K. fisheries administrations will work together to put in place a comprehensive recovery plan to restore them to healthy levels.
Furthermore, it outlines a new approach to tackling the significant challenge of “choke species,” which occurs when fishermen have used up their quota for a specific stock – as fishermen cannot target a certain area for risk of accidentally catching the exhausted stock, they either have to stop fishing or risk breaking the law if they land the extra stock. Two new approaches are proposed in England: a reserve of quota that could be used to offset choke species, coupled with a new scheme to help fishermen unable to find quota to set against their catch.
Also, as set out in its 25 Year Environment Plan, the U.K. government will pursue an ecosystem approach to fisheries management that will minimize impacts on non-commercial species and the marine environment.
While Scottish Fisheries Secretary Fergus Ewing has criticized the lack of input his department was allowed in the drafting of the proposals as well as the lack of clarity on a number of important issues, fishing industry leaders have voiced their support for the paper.
Barrie Deas, CEO of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisation (NFFO), said the government had presented a broad vision for post-Brexit fisheries that is “clear and cogent - and importantly, is aligned with international law.”
Deas said he was sure that it would attract wide support across the industry and parliament.
“Outside the EU, the U.K. will be an independent coastal state and this will provide the basis to rebalance quota shares and implement effective and adaptive management measures for our fisheries," Deas said. “We are pleased a partnership with the fishing industry is at the heart of the government’s approach. There is much to do and we look forward to working within this framework of cooperation.”
Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) Chief Executive Bertie Armstrong said his organization backs the proposal.
“The White Paper enshrines the important elements that we have been arguing for to forge a sustainable future for our industry: allowing the U.K. to become an independent coastal state, to take charge of who catches what where and to resist any and all attempts to link access to our waters to access to E.U. markets," Armstrong said. “Of course, there is a long way to go, and we now need our governments to show real backbone in the Brexit negotiations to ensure that these aspirations become reality.”
The proposals also have the support of The Pew Charitable Trusts, with Andrew Clayton, project director of the Ending Overfishing in Northwestern Europe project, saying, “We are encouraged by the government’s aim to become a world leader in fisheries management, with high sustainability standards and transparent reporting. To achieve this ambition, the U.K. will need to set stringent benchmarks to end overfishing and restore stocks to sustainable, productive levels, sticking to the limits advised by scientists and negotiating these shared management measures with the U.K.’s neighbors.”
A 10-week consultation period on the plans outlined in the White Paper is underway, with industry, NGOs, and other stakeholders invited to share their views by 12 September.
