Evoking bitter memories of the Cod Wars

As his boss pledged to “turbo-charge” the fishing industry at the Tory conference yesterday, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack produced a comment which, for those of a certain vintage, would have immediately evoked memories of the Cod Wars of the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

These maritime disputes centred around Iceland’s desire to progressively extend its fishing limits to 12, 50 and 200 miles, involved the Royal Navy, and did not end well for the UK fleet.

The North Atlantic island nation cleverly used its continuing membership of Nato, and its strategic position in the Cold War climate, to expand its exclusive fishery zone.

The result of British trawlers being denied access to lucrative grounds devastated ports in the northeast of England, and affected thousands of deep-sea fishermen, many from Aberdeen.

It would be too easy to dismiss Mr Jack’s comments about how the Scottish fleet would be protected in the event of a no-deal Brexit as attentiongrabbbing bravado, but the spectre of that happening remains real, and questions over what sort of management regime – if any – will replace Brussels’ Common Fisheries Policy remain unanswered.

If it quickly becomes a free-for-all, the prospect of the Navy being asked to maintain order in British waters will suddenly become a real option, and Mr Jack’s bullish words will have a whole new resonance.

“Questions remain over what sort of fisheries management regime will replace the CFP”