21 April 2017
The Prime Minister’s announcement of a General Election on the 8th June may have caught most people by surprise but the election campaign provides a golden opportunity for the parties to make clear their level of commitment for the fishing industry.
Given the imminent negotiations on the UK’s departure from
the EU, and therefore the Common Fisheries Policy, the fishing industry will be
looking for clear and unambiguous manifesto commitments to:
- The UK’s status as an independent coastal state,
as soon as it leaves the EU - A future UK fisheries policy that is designed
for and tailored to our fleets - An exclusive 12 mile limit to protect our
inshore fleets - Renegotiation of shared stocks to ensure that
the UK’s shares broadly reflect the resources in our waters - Maintenance of unimpeded access to markets and
external waters fishing opportunities
It is widely recognised that fishing has an iconic status,
within the context of the UK’s departure from the EU, mainly because of the
shabby way our industry has been treated in the past.
Brexit provides an opportunity to move swiftly away from the
CFP and the slanted table that has worked to our severe disadvantage since
1973. The General Election and specifically the party manifestos, provide an
opportunity for the parties to spell clearly spell out their policies on
fishing. It will then be for the electorate to judge.