Boris pledges £23m lifeline
Brexit chaos payout offer to struggling firms angered by ‘death wish’ on their industry
SCOTTISH seafood firms hit by Brexit chaos have been promised they will benefit from a £23million compensation package.
Boris Johnson pledged more support amid an industry backlash about delays, extra costs and other barriers for exports to the European Union.
But fishing bosses said the UK and Scottish governments have put a ‘death wish’ on the industry by failing to act on Brexit chaos warnings dating back years.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross lobbied the Prime Minister over the issue by demanding he announces a compensation package ‘as swiftly as possible’.
Asked about seafood hauliers’ protests at Downing Street yesterday, Mr Johnson told the BBC issues had been caused by ‘teething problems’.
He said: ‘I sympathise very much and understand their frustrations. Things have been exacerbated by Covid and the demand hasn’t been what it was before the pandemic – that’s one of the problems we’re trying to deal with. That’s driven in large part by the pandemic.
‘Where businesses, through no fault of their own, have faced difficulties exporting where there is a genuine willing buyer, there’s a £23million fund to help out.’ But he added: ‘There are great opportunities for fishermen across the whole of the UK to take advantage of the spectacular marine wealth of the United Kingdom.
‘In just five-and-a-half years’ time, we will have access to all the fish in all our waters. And just now, we have access to 25 per cent more than we did just a month ago.’
Mr Ross pushed Mr Johnson on compensation in a letter – copied to Environment Secretary George Eustice – sent last week.
In it, Mr Ross said the fishing industry has faced ‘significant issues’ and ‘unsustainable delays of perishable consignments’ in the initial weeks of exporting to the European Union following Brexit.
He said: ‘It is clear there are problems for which the UK Government and Scottish Government both bear responsibility.’
While he said the Scottish Government had been ‘ill-prepared’, he told Mr Johnson: ‘I would urge the UK Government to continue its work with relevant stakeholders to resolve the issues that are creating the delays.
‘This is needed immediately and we must ensure other produce does not incur similar difficulties. It is imperative the Government also outlines a compensation scheme for those who’ve been affected as swiftly as possible.’
The £23million promised is in addition to a commitment to invest £100million in the UK fishing industry in the coming years, as well as £200million provided to the Scottish Government to minimise Brexit-related disruption.
Andrew Charles, partner in Aberdeen-based fish processing firm J Charles, said it has had to stop exports to the EU after additional costs forced him to increase charges from £12 per kilogramme to an ‘unviable’ £17.
He also criticised the Scottish Government for failing to act on calls for an plan to help prevent the ‘serious crisis’ the industry would face, saying Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has been ‘caught sleeping’.
Mr Charles said it was ‘not just about compensation’, adding: ‘What this is about is creating an environment that will allow the
‘Understand their frustrations’ ‘Livelihoods are at risk’
fish processing industry to flourish in the future. What we have at the present moment is a death wish over our industry by the governments, which is not exactly the sea of opportunity which was impressed upon us when we were told how wonderful everything was going to be after Brexit.’
Tavish Scott, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation, said: ‘Livelihoods are at risk. It is to be hoped the UK Government heeds the views of people who used to seamlessly export to Europe.’