MP issues warning on fishing

POWER over fishing needs to be given to Holyrood to prevent Scottish interests in this industry being negotiated away any further says Na h-Eileanan an Iar MP Angus Brendan MacNeil.

Fishermen had previously been assured that they would regain full control over the country’s fishing waters on Brexit day, March 29 2019. Instead, a decision has been taken that means the UK will be consulted on fish quotas during the interim period, while remaining in the Common Fisheries Policy.

Last week, Mr MacNeil, SNP fisheries spokesperson at Westminster, called on the secretary of state for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Michael Gove, to clarify what implications Brexit will have on the Scottish fishing industry and to urge that Westminster resists a power-grab of Scottish fisheries.

Mr MacNeil said: ‘Fisheries must be handed to the Scottish Government and not power-grabbed by Westminster, as Westminster is likely to negotiate Scotland’s fisheries away during the Brexit negotiations.

‘Brexit is going to be damaging given that control over fisheries was one bit of hope in a very gloomy landscape. Now we see the Tories selling out the fishing industry. This is a massive betrayal to fishermen who were promised by the Tory Government they would regain control.’