British fishermen fear ‘war’ with EU will last for decades
FISHERMEN are facing a decadeslong “war of attrition” with Brussels over post-Brexit fishing rights.
The industry warned it expects EU-UK relations to turn “toxic” over access to British coastal waters.
This will likely see the return of the ugly scenes witnessed off Jersey earlier this year, when the Navy had to be called in to monitor 60 French boats as they descended on the island’s main port.
The post-Brexit fisheries agreement, signed on Christmas Eve last year, deprived France, and other European countries, of a significant part of their catch.
Barrie Deas, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, said yesterday: “My feeling is that because of the deal, fishing is likely to be politically toxic between the UK and EU for decades to come.The UK has the legal status of a coastal state, but it’s constrained by big-power politics from fully utilising those rights.”
Under the Brexit trade deal, Brussels agreed to hand back 25 per cent of the value of fish caught in British waters over a five-and-halfyear period. After June 2026, the UK can slash EU catches further but eurocrats will be able to slap tariffs on fishing products or lock British boats out of the bloc.
Mr Deas said: “French fishermen clearly were sold on the idea that the Trade and Co-operation Agreement meant no change whatsoever.”
He urged the Government to be steadfast in future wrangling with the bloc over fishing rights after reiterating the industry felt December’s agreement had been a “sell-out”.
Mr Deas argued that the deal had been interpreted by other nations as a sign Downing Street would not stand up for its fishermen.
“The turbulence created has extended to our relations with Norway,” he explained. “Seeing that the UK gave into the EU, Norway is playing a dangerous game of hardball on mackerel – at some cost
to their reputation.”