Talks ‘can break deadlock’ over UK fish exports
PRIME Minister Boris Johnson has said he “understands the frustrations” of businesses exporting to Europe, after seafood hauliers protested against the Brexit fishing deal by stacking lorries in central London.
Mr Johnson confirmed on Monday that any business experiencing difficulty exporting to the European Union “through no fault of their own” would be compensated.
Exports of fresh fish and seafood have been severely disrupted by delays since the UK’s transition period ended on December 31.
Among those who joined the protest were three lorries from the Dartmouth Crab Company. Mark Moore, from the company, said that the export situation needs “sorting out” as fish is going to waste.
“We’re working with Defra behind the scenes, with some of their officials, and we’re having some very positive dialogue with them,” Mr Moore said.
“Their hands are tied to certain things, what they can and they can’t achieve in the short term, and in the longer-term issues are going to have to go back to the EU. But we have to man up and be stronger about negotiating with the EU and telling them what is and what isn’t possible, because officially they have to do the same as us soon. They’re up in arms about when that happens and I think, when we get to June and the Continentals have to do the same level of paperwork, they will then be at the meeting table.”
The new checks and paperwork has been causing massive delays for the industry since the UK left the EU, with seafood producers growing increasingly frustrated at the lack of Government action.
Seafood hauliers descended on roads near 10 Downing Street in response to the issues they have faced in exporting seafood to the EU, saying they were being “tied in knots with paperwork” by the Brexit fishing deal. In all, 14 people were issued with fines.
Speaking to the BBC, Boris Johnson said: “I sympathise very much and understand their frustrations and things have been exacerbated by Covid and the demand hasn’t been what it was before the pandemic, and 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 £23 million fund to help out,” he added. “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% more than we did just a month ago. That means there is scope for fishing communities across the UK to take advantage of the increase in quota.
“We’ve set up the £100 million fund to help people with boats, to help with the fish processing industry – the opportunity is massive.”
A spokesperson from Eyemouthbased D R Collin & Son said: “These are not ‘teething issues’... the consequences of these problems will be catastrophic on the lives of fishermen, fishing towns and the shellfish industry as a whole.”