Brexit tipped to reignite Rockall rows over fishing
IT is an isolated Atlantic islet whose ownership was disputed for centuries until being settled in Scotland’s favour in 2014.
Now there are fears Brexit could reignite the age-old controversy over Rockall – with some in Ireland concerned that the UK may ‘pull up the drawbridge’ on international use of the fishing waters.
Rockall is 180 miles west of St Kilda and its nearest inhabited neighbour is North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, 230 miles away.
But the islet, the remnant of an extinct volcano, is also 270 miles north-west of Ireland and has been the subject of Irish rebel ballads and diplomatic tussles over the surrounding fisheries and oil-rich sea bed.
Jane Morrice, a former European Commission representative in Northern Ireland, said: ‘The fact the rocky outcrop in the North Atlantic is claimed by the UK as part of Scotland could make it a small but serious point in future negotiations.’
She said fishing rights would involve a complicated deal, with the potential to make or break the Northern Irish fishing industry. Eamon O’Cuiv, Fianna Fail’s island affairs spokesman, said: ‘In the event of a hard Brexit, there is a strong desire by many in the UK fishing industry to “pull up the drawbridge” and push for a ban on non-UK fishing fleets.’
Ireland has never tried to seize Rockall but has made claims for some of the potentially lucrative sea bed around it. The area supports large stocks of haddock and monkfish.
Sean O’Donoghue, chief executive of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation on the west coast of County Donegal, said: ‘We can fish at the minute in Rockall but when the UK leaves they will no longer be part of the Common Fisheries Policy and there will have to be some detailed discussions around the fisheries which are very difficult to resolve.’