UK/EU trade deal sparks mixed reactions from Scottish fishers

The Scottish Fisherman’s Federation (SFF) has described the UK’s new deal with the EU as a ‘horror show for Scottish fishermen’ and ‘far worse than Boris Johnson’s botched Brexit agreement.’

According to the UK Labour Government ‘the new twelve year agreement protects Britain’s fishing access, fishing rights and fishing areas with no increase in the amount of fish EU vessels can catch in British waters, providing stability and certainty for the sector.’

Elspeth Macdonald, chief executive of the SFF, said:

“It is clear that Sir Keir Starmer made the whole deal on the backs of our fishermen and coastal communities, granting EU vessels 12 years of continuous access to UK waters at the last minute in order secure other objectives.

“This highlights the total indifference of the British political establishment to the interests of our fishing sector, with Sir Keir becoming the third Prime Minister after Edward Heath and Johnson to betray the industry.

“Any attempt by either the UK or EU to portray the new deal as a continuation of existing arrangements would be a lie, because in fact the Trade and Co-operation Agreement paved the way for annual access negotiations from 2026.

“At the weekend, Sir Keir said the deal would be measured against how much it would improve job prospects and allow our communities to flourish.

“Giving away a national asset such as our rich and healthy fishing grounds for no discernible benefit not only fails both of these tests, but is a disgrace that will ensure the enmity of this proud industry for many years to come.”

Seafood is Scotland’s second largest export and management of Fisheries is devolved. Scotland’s sea area is vast, making up 62% (462,263 km² ) of the UK’s waters and 8% (19,000 km) of Europe’s coastline. The majority of sea fishing in the UK takes place in Scottish waters and by Scottish vessels. The Scottish Government was not involved in the UK Government’s deal with the European Union.

The Common Understanding on a renewed agenda for EU-UK cooperation focuses on areas such as fisheries, mobility, emissions trading and sanitary and phytosanitary measures. 

Statements from the UK-EU summit provide little detail on the outcome of the fisheries agreement. The European Commission simply states the outcome of “full reciprocal access to waters to fish until 30 June 2038.” – SPICe

Salmon Scotland, which represents the Scottish farmed salmon industry have welcomed the agreement. It said the UK–EU trade deal would reduce costly delays and red tape that have cost salmon export companies an estimated £3 million a year since Brexit.

France is the biggest market for Scottish salmon, with 500 lorryloads of fish from the Highlands and islands entering Europe each week.

According to Salmon Scotland it supports 12,500 jobs and generates £760 million for the UK economy. The continuing 10 per cent US tariffs on salmon has put pressure on the industry to cultivate other markets.

Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said:

“This breakthrough eases the burden on our farmers, processors and the communities they support, and we welcome efforts to implement it at pace.

“The withdrawal of physical checks is particularly welcome. It means lower costs and quicker deliveries for our customers.

“Since Brexit, our members have faced costly delays and bureaucracy moving 500 lorryloads of nutritious, low-carbon salmon across the Channel every week.

“Scottish salmon is the UK’s biggest food export, with strong demand in the EU, the US and beyond. A large share of our exports to France carry the prestigious Label Rouge mark, underlining our global reputation for quality.

“We look forward to rebuilding trade ties across Europe and will continue to press for freer access to the US and other markets to support jobs and growth in our coastal communities.”

Click on this link for the UK Government’s UK-EU Summit – Explainer.
 

Fisheries

• Under the current Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the UK and EU are in an ‘adjustment period’ until June 2026, during which reciprocal access to each other’s waters is guaranteed.
• After this, access would have been negotiated annually with a presumption that EU vessels would largely continue to access UK waters and vice versa.
• We have agreed a new twelve-year access arrangement with the EU that means:
  • Continued access to waters: reciprocal access to each other’s waters, meaning UK fishers can invest, plan and grow their businesses knowing they’ll have secure access to EU waters, worth around £80m per year to our fleet;
  • The UK retains control over its waters to pursue its own sustainable fishing policies. We remain outside the EU’s fisheries rules – reaffirming our sovereignty; and
  • the UK retains the quota uplift agreed in the Brexit deal, which transferred 25% of EU quota shares to the UK’s fleet. That boost – worth £175m in fishing opportunities in 2025 – remains fully in place, and there is no change to EU quota levels under this agreement.
• UK fisheries will also benefit from the SPS agreement we have also agreed to deliver meaning:
  • the removal of Export Health Certificates, saving businesses up to £200 per consignment. This means a single lorry carrying a mixed load of fish products could see £1000s in reduced costs. British fish products will also not be subject to 100% paperwork checks, and up to 30% physical checks; and
  • reopening shellfish trade: shellfish from certain types of GB domestic waters currently banned in the EU will be able to be exported again.

Deputy First Minister in the Scottish Government, Kate Forbes, took to social media to give a reaction to the deal. She said:

“The deal between UK and EU unpicks a small part of the damage of Brexit, especially on agriculture, food and drink, energy and Erasmus. Important progress. It’s at the cost of fishing communities, who’ve been treated as pawns throughout Brexit negotiations since 2016.”