Scottish Fishermen Tell Sir Keir Starmer to Keep Fishing Rights
Scottish fishing chiefs have sent a letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, urging him to protect the UK’s sovereign access rights to important fishing stocks. The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) chief executive, Elspeth Macdonald, warned that giving in to the EU’s demands could lead to backlash from voters. The letter, representing SFF’s eight member associations with over 400 vessels, emphasized that having full control over the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is crucial for future prosperity and is a standard international practice.
According to Ms. Macdonald, the EU catches seven times more in UK waters than the UK catches in theirs, showing the current fisheries arrangement is heavily skewed in the EU’s favor. She stressed the importance of the UK having complete control over access to the EEZ through annual negotiations to establish fair quota shares. The SFF believes that previous fishing opportunities were determined by the location of fish, a policy that was supported by the EU before Brexit changed the dynamics of negotiation.
The federation cautioned against agreeing to a multi-year deal that allows the EU continued access to the UK’s EEZ without a significant transfer of fishing quota in return. Ms. Macdonald strongly stated that giving away fishing rights to the EU without substantial benefits to the UK would be a betrayal of the Scottish fishing industry. Recent polling conducted by the SFF revealed that a large majority of Scots support the UK having full control over fishing waters and expect direct benefits to Scotland’s fishing industry in exchange for EU access.
In conclusion, the SFF is calling for Prime Minister Starmer to prioritize the national interest and long-term prosperity of the fishing industry over short-term trade-offs. The industry plays a vital role in the UK’s economy, job creation, and community sustainability. It is essential to protect the rights of Scottish fishers and ensure a fair deal that benefits all parties involved.
