Fishermen land bigger share of EU catches

Political Editor MINISTERS will be legally obliged to ensure British fishermen get a fairer share of the catch after Brexit, under plans to be unveiled today.

Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, will announce a change to the law to ensure that trawlermen get a bigger percentage of fish landed in EU waters than they do under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). However, there is no guarantee that British fishermen will keep more of the catch landed in British waters, as the Government wants to be free to trade quotas in different fish stocks with EU member states.

Fishing has become a totemic issue of Brexit, as the UK has had a historically poor deal under the CFP, which is based on Seventies fishing patterns. On average, between 2012 and 2016, other EU member states’ vessels landed around 760,000 tons of fish, worth £540million, in UK waters each year, while UK vessels landed around 90,000 tons, worth £110 million, in other member states’ waters.

The Government will table an amendment to the Fisheries Bill, which will place a legal obligation on the

Environment Secretary “to pursue a fairer share of fishing opportunities than the UK currently receives under the CFP”.

In addition, the Government has set aside an extra £37.2million to support the British fishing industry during the Brexit transition period, which could last until the end of 2022.

The money will be spent on improving infrastructure at ports so that more fish can be landed, and also exported, after Brexit.

Money will also be spent on improving safety for fishermen, who carry out one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, and supporting coastal communities that depend on fishing in order to foster new generations of fishermen.

The money will kick in after the UK ceases to receive EU grants at the end of 2020.

The Government has already committed to replace the money the fishing industry receives from the EU – around £32million per year – which is separate from the new funding.

Mr Gove said in a statement: “We are taking back control of our waters and will secure a fairer share of fishing opportunities for the whole of the UK fishing industry as we leave the European Union.

“The amendment to the Fisheries Bill will give legal weight to this commitment.

“New funding will boost the industry as we become an independent coastal state, preparing it to receive a greater share of future fishing opportunities.”