The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) has welcomed the Brexit plan delivered last week in by the U.K. Government, highlighting that it presented the fleet with the valuable opportunity to catch considerably more fish in local waters.
The representative body also endorsed the White Paper’s vision of establishing a world leading food industry in the United Kingdom, saying it is an ambition that is “fully shared” by the fishing sector.
“The goal is clear – to grasp the enormous opportunity that Brexit presents,” said Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the SFF. “The figures quoted in the White Paper illuminate the potential with EU vessels catching 683,000 metric tons (MT) (GBP 484 million (USD 604.2 million, EUR 560.2 million) revenue) of fish in U.K. waters compared with U.K. vessels catching 111,000 MT (GBP 114 million (USD 142.3 million, EUR 131.9 million) revenue) in EU waters.
“This is a world-class natural resource, for which full rights and responsibilities will transfer to the U.K. at the point of Brexit. It is a precious national asset that will last into perpetuity and which must not be traded away in the forthcoming negotiations.
“For fishing communities the length and breadth of the U.K., Brexit is a golden opportunity – indeed a sea of opportunities – which we must not squander,” said Armstrong.
The White Paper, “The United Kingdom’s exit from and new partnership with the European Union,” presented to U.K. parliament by Prime Minister Theresa May also said, “Given the heavy reliance on U.K. waters of the EU fishing industry and the importance of EU waters to the U.K., it is in both our interests to reach a mutually beneficial deal that works for the U.K. and the EU’s fishing communities. Following EU exit, we will want to ensure a sustainable and profitable seafood sector and deliver a cleaner, healthier and more productive marine environment.”
