Brexit could mean huge rewards for the fishing industry – if it is managed properly
Mike Park looks forward to Scottish Government control of the seas
If, as we hope, Brexit results in the UK attaining Coastal State status like Norway, our indigenous fishing industry will look very different in 10 years’ time.
With control of our own waters it will be up to us to determine who gets access, when and to what. This will lead to Scotland securing a far greater share of the stocks that swim in our waters and deliver greater stability for the coastal communities that still bear the scars of a failed Common Fisheries Policy.
With power comes responsibility, and very soon the burden of responsibility will rest upon our shoulders. It will be important to put in place structures and processes that promote good governance; co-management groups with shared responsibility and accountability. The challenge of protecting our stocks will become the responsibility of the Scottish Government, a consequence of the devolution settlement that many continue to overlook.
Responsibility for negotiating with the EU and Norway on the international stage will remain the competence of the UK Government. That said, there is a strong rationale for Scotland to take the lead in negotiations that involve access to Scottish waters or catches of our major stocks.
The Scottish Government has made clear its preference for inclusive management. The building of policy from the bottom-up will be at odds with the current top-down, paternalistic style of governance that Europe continues to apply. Deliver-