“It’s a win-win for the Dutch and the French, for the UK it’s a disaster” – that’s from Joe Robertson MP, who has criticised the Prime Minister’s decision to extend current fishing arrangements with the European Union through to 2038.
The deal, confirmed yesterday (Monday), allows continued access for European trawlers to UK coastal waters for another 12 years, despite longstanding calls from the UK fishing industry for reduced EU quotas and tighter restrictions on foreign super trawlers.
The Isle of Wight East MP took to social media last night to voice his concerns, sharing a photo of a 2,500-ton Dutch vessel operating in the English Channel and highlighting what he sees as an unfair playing field for UK boats.
Mr Robertson said:
“That’s a 2,500-ton Dutch super trawler scraping the English Channel of fish over several days. Fully laden it’s headed back to port.
“Our 4-ton vessel watching on can’t catch bluefin tuna because only 15 UK boats are allowed according to EU rules. It can catch bass, but only up to a small quota – less than the Dutch boat accidently killed fishing for other things in one day.
“Today, the Prime Minister ensured this situation will continue through to 2038 calling it a win-win. It’s a win-win for the Dutch and the French. For the UK it’s a disaster.”
The 12-year extension has sparked anger from across the fishing industry and the wider population. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claims it could spell the end of the UK fishing industry.
It was just last week that Victoria Atkins MP, the Conservative Shadow Environment Secretary, met with local fishermen and farmers on the Isle of Wight to hear concerns about post-Brexit regulations.
During that visit, Ventnor fisherman Ed Blake told Island Echo about the decline in the number of full-time fishing boats on the Isle of Wight, noting that his family’s operation is 1 of only 6 remaining. He said:
“Our biggest concern is the next generation. When we first started the fishery in 2007, we used to land off about 20 boats around the island. They’re not there anymore. Now there are only six full-time boats, two of which are ours.
“We’re overwhelmed by red tape. There are 13 different governing bodies, each with their own rules. It’s death by a thousand cuts. The regulations don’t align and are stopping us from modernising.”
Dear ol’ Nige spelled the end of the UK fishing industry when he conned the fishermen to back his banging on about ‘taking back our country’ in terms of fishing in the first place. He, and they, were warned that without our closest trading partners and the obvious checks that third country have to go through, the just in time process would render many fresh foods unsaleable and that the bureaucracy of red tape would push the costs up and may UK businesses would fail. That has happened both here and across the UK; the only reason Ed Blake’s hasn’t is because he didn’t rely on trade with European markets in the first place, and not because there’s not enough fish. There’s not enough fish in general because of over consumption and the dire state of our waters. And yes, we are overwhelmed with red tape….because you all voted for Brexit. You’ve got what you wanted, and Farage et al didn’t care then, and they don’t care now. All he cares about is his toadying to elites and money.
As for tuna…there were until last year only ten licenced boats in the UK granted permission by the MMO to catch blue fin, seven in Cornwall, two in Devon and one in Scotland, and all by hook and line. None on the IOW. Why? Because the species had been fished almost to extinction. With the limits imposed those stocks have started to recover. OUR UK licences have no DEFRA conditions imposed, no checks, no mandatory training, no animal welfare…yet the EU still do have the checks and balances thankfully, as we currently have no idea if BFT is a sustainable fish.
Well said. Findus own all the rights ultimately anyway
No, they don’t, they are simply a processing company.
Farage couldn’t give a ****
but the same uneducated Numpty’s who
believed Brexit was good for the country trust him
Lol
Since the so called oven ready Brexit more Dinghy’s
have been arriving on our shores.
Complete and utter nonsense from start to finish. I wish I had the time to take each of your points in turn, but sadly, with a life to live, I don’t have the time. 2 tier Keir sell out – as predicted.
“The Isle of Wight East MP took to social media last night to voice his concerns,…. and highlighting what he sees as an unfair playing field for UK boats”
Yes,..
an unfair playing field, admittedly not necessarily made better by the latest ‘deal’, but not made worse either,..but ultimately caused by Brexit!
so for those that did,.. “y’all voted for it!”,
Support Farage & his type at your peril,.. (like Trump,..the only thing Farage is intereted in helping, is himself)
I find it worrying, that there are people who are so blinkered to reality, that they still think Brexit was a good idea.
Brexit was a mistake and it is only a matter of
time it will be reversed.
The Government will do it slowly.
To all of you who voted this wanker and his government in..you’ve only got yourselves to blame for what this wanker and his pricks have done to this country.
The problem is whoever is in power
they will do the same.
All parties work for the same Elite leader.
The WEF
THIS government is not responsible for any of that ^^. The previous one was. This one’s trying to do some damage limitation in negotiating some easing up of our self imposed EU trade barriers. Or did you want ALL our farmers and fishermen to go bust? Idiot.
Well said
Totally agree with you.
That Labour creep MP on the IOW, wouldn’t trust him at all.
All these lazy sods on benefit who voted for the Labour shower of sh*t will all moan like hell when all the money runs out and their benefit stops.
This country is doomed under this bloody government, that’s for sure.
I don’t trust any Politician, but I must say
Joe Robertson seems a good guy.
This government couldn’t care less about anyone, not fishermen, not farmers, not families trying to feed their children with fresh produce . They are driving this country downwards. Heaven help us all.
I wouldn’t never trust a Politician.
NEVER!!, the Plandemic proved that!
No, you’re thinking of the last government who Brexited us, and the fishermen, and the farmers and who in turn raised all the prices so people COULDN’T feed their children. You were even told it would happen. But did you listen? No. Who did actually benefit from Brexit? The multi-nationals, the already very rich, and the entire Tory government who literally gambled on it, as did Farage. It was called disaster capitalism. You were all told that too.
Did Brexit really happen!!
If so it wasn’t oven ready
Lol
What will they do when the sea’s are empty of fish another part of the paradise we were given destroyed
Reforms Farage kept a low profile after this
Labour deal, maybe that’s because he also
reports to Davos
They all sing from the same hymn sheet.
Lol
What this MP is ignoring is that one of the positives of this deal is easier exports of fish to the EU because of less red tape, which is what the fisherman interviewed is actually complaining about.
They have been caught out, in the wrong
Plaice at the wrong time, it’s like hitting a
large Rock!
They should face facts, Fishermen have been
Battered!
Ship ahoy