Brexit opens up ‘sea of opportunity’ for Scotland

Scottish fishing leaders will hold meetings with key Government representatives this week to promote the opportunities they believe Brexit can deliver for Scotland’s coastal communities.

The Scottish fishing industry believes that Brexit provides a “sea of opportunity” for Scotland and the UK to reinvigorate coastal and island communities and deliver a thriving and sustainable seafood industry.

It said that Brexit will enable the UK to regain control of its 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone, which in turn will lead to more effective management and fairer shares of catching opportunity.

Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, will give evidence to the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee in Glasgow to outline how he believes Brexit, if handled properly, could provide the framework for injecting fresh dynamism into Britain’s fishing communities.

He said: “Brexit really is a sea of opportunity for our coastal and island communities.

“Scotland sits strategically on the northern continental shelf right in the middle of some of the richest fishing grounds in the world.

“Having control of these fishing grounds would generate significant and sustainable economic growth to these communities with spin-off benefits for local businesses and schools.”

Scottish fishing leaders will this week hold talks at Westminster with Defra minister Andrea Leadsom and fisheries minister George Eustice.

Further talks will be held in Edinburgh with Scottish rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing, and Mike Rumbles, the Brexit minister.

Bertie Armstrong, Scottish Fishermen’s Federation chief executive.