SCOTTISH SEAFOOD SECTOR REFLECTS ON BREXIT, 10 YEARS ON

Scottish seafood sector reflects on Brexit, 10 years on. A decade after the UK voted to leave the European Union, representatives from the Shetland fishing industry and Scotland’s salmon sector have reflected on Brexit’s lasting impact, arguing that many of the promised benefits have yet to be realised, says the Shetland Times.

Fishing leaders are urging the UK government to take a firmer approach to managing access to British waters, saying it should make better use of its status as an independent coastal state to protect the interests of the domestic fleet and coastal communities.

The Scottish salmon industry has also highlighted the financial and administrative burdens created by Brexit, pointing to increased costs and more complex trading procedures since the UK left the EU.

The referendum, held on 23 June 2016, resulted in 52% of UK voters backing Brexit, while 62% of voters in Scotland supported remaining in the EU.

Many fishermen supported leaving the EU because they were dissatisfied with the Common Fisheries Policy. However, industry representatives now argue that successive UK governments have not fully delivered on expectations following Brexit.

Shetland Fishermen’s Association executive officer Daniel Lawson said the government has not taken sufficient control over fishing opportunities in UK waters or ensured that the benefits are retained within local communities. He criticised the 12-year fisheries access agreement with the EU, arguing that it allows continued intensive fishing by European vessels in UK waters, including around Shetland.

Lawson acknowledged that Shetland had benefited from additional quota allocations secured through the original Trade and Cooperation Agreement, as well as the UK’s independent role in annual quota negotiations for key commercial fish stocks. However, he said the UK has yet to fully embrace its responsibilities as an independent coastal state by recognising the value of its marine resources and requiring EU vessels to pay for access to British waters. Until that changes, he believes many potential economic opportunities will continue to be missed by communities such as Shetland.

Salmon Scotland chief executive Tavish Scott also criticised the post-Brexit trading relationship with the EU. He said the industry has had to absorb higher operating costs while dealing with greater bureaucracy, including the continued requirement for physical export documentation rather than digital paperwork.

Scott said the sector hopes a future sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement between the UK and EU will reduce paperwork and lower costs, although there is currently no certainty over when such an agreement will be implemented.

He also noted that exports to the EU are now treated as coming from a third country, creating additional barriers that did not exist before Brexit. Despite these challenges, Scott said the EU remains the Scottish salmon industry’s most important export market. Following discussions with EU ambassadors earlier this week, he stressed that while the sector can continue to raise concerns about trading difficulties, its priority remains maintaining and growing salmon exports.

Image: ©Fish Focus