News / Report reveals extent of foreign fish landings
SCOTTISH fishermen have reiterated their view that leaving the EU provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to revitalise coastal communities after new research revealed that 58 per cent of all fish caught in UK waters was taken by foreign boats.
Dr Ian Napier of the NAFC Marine Centre in Scalloway has analysed data provided by the European Commission.
He found that:
- Half of all demersal fish and two thirds of pelagic fish caught was caught by boats from other EU countries;
- More than three quarters of the sole, hake and herring, and more than half of the megrim, plaice and saithe was taken by other European fishing boats;
- Non-UK EU boats caught seven times more fish in UK waters than UK boats caught in the waters surrounding other EU countries;
- This equates to around 650,000 tonnes of fish and shellfish, worth more than £400m each year.
The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation described the findings as a “bombshell” that could not be ignored by UK politicians tasked with negotiating Brexit.
He said exit from the EU would enable the UK to assert control over its 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“This detailed analysis of these landing figures is a bombshell that reveals the truly shocking extent of how our rich fishing grounds have been given away in recent decades,” he said.
“Brexit provides a sea of opportunity to breathe new life into our coastal communities by ensuring increased catching opportunities and fit for purpose management within our own EEZ.”
His views were echoed in Shetland where chief officer of the local fishermen’s association Simon Collins said Dr Napier’s findings confirmed the views of the entire Scottish fishing industry.
“Once out of Europe, the UK will have the right to manage its own waters as it sees fit and control access to them,” he said.
“The report shows just how strong a bargaining position we have. We should deny access to our rich and productive fishing grounds to any country not prepared to offer something in return.”
Armstrong added: “The UK and Scottish Governments must take heed of the startling figures contained within this report and work together as a team to ensure that the best possible deal is reached for our hardworking fishermen.
“It would be a monumental betrayal of our coastal communities if this opportunity was traded away in the forthcoming Brexit negotiations.
“Brexit has the real potential to turn Scotland into a world leading sustainable seafood harvesting and exporting nation.”
SNP Highlands and Islands list MSP Maree Todd acknowledged that the common fisheries policy had been “a disaster” for the fishing industry and their communities.
But she doesn’t have “any faith that the UK government will behave in any more generous a way than it has done for the last few decades during Brexit negotiations”.
“As we all know they considered the fishing industry ‘expendable’ back in the 1970s and I have no evidence that their view has changed,” Todd said.
“The recent decision by the UK government not to support an ETV [emergency towing vessel] for the Western Isles, despite the oil rig disaster, does not bode well. I think it’s a clear signal of how little they value our coastal communities.”
She added that, speaking to fishermen from across the Highlands and Islands since June’s referendum, “many sell their catch direct to EU markets and are worried about the prospect of a hard Brexit”.
Labour’s Highlands and Islands list MSP Rhoda Grant, the party’s spokeswoman on the rural economy, said she would work to “ensure that the Scottish Government gives voice to the views of the Scottish fishing industry”.
“It must put sustained pressure on the UK government to ensure that the future of the Scottish fishing industry is not negotiated away during the Brexit process.”
- The full report – Fish Landings from the UK EEZ – is available at: www.nafc.uhi.ac.uk/eez-report
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