Brexit news: UK fishermen face TWO ‘looming crises’ as quota swapping is hell to cripple industry | Politics | New

As part of the Brexit trade deal struck by the Prime Minister at the end of last year, the EU’s share of catches in UK waters will decline by 25% in stages over the next five years . After this fishing transition period ends in June 2026, the two sides will hold talks annually to discuss access. During negotiations with Brussels, Boris Johnson insisted he would do everything possible to protect British fishermen and insisted that the country “take back control of our waters”.
But British fishermen have complained about having to desperately make their way through the endless bureaucratic hassle that has stifled them in the six months since the trade deal was struck.
Alistair Carmichael, who has served as a Liberal Democrat MP for the main coastal Orkney and Shetland constituency for the past 20 years, called for a ‘call for evidence’ ahead of a parliamentary debate on the impact of Brexit on the food industry. fishing on July 13.
In a warning to the Prime Minister, the worst is yet to come for the sector, he told Express.co.uk: âThe biggest problem for the UK fishing industry is yet to be struck and this is what they call the quota exchanges during the year. .
“Boris Johnson got a quota which was higher than the base we had in the Common Fisheries Policy, but lower than what we actually got because we bought or traded quotas with other countries in the EU.
“With North Sea cod, our duty under the old rules was 52%.
âBoris Johnson came back with 57%, but the previous 52% had increased to 62% and because you are outside the EU you do not have access to private quota trading like that.
âThere is no provision in the agreement for in-year quota trading.
Downing Street said they could do all of this government to government rather than fishing from boat to boat.
READ MORE: Brexit LIVE: Frost warns of ‘growing’ backlash to EU deal
Mr Carmichael said the UK fishing industry has felt ‘overwhelmingly used’ by the government since the trade deal with the EU entered into force at the end of the year – and now deserves something in return.
The Liberal Democrat MP said: “The fishing industry feels overused.
âA year ago, you couldn’t find a port in the country that didn’t have a Tory politician standing on the deck of a trawler posing for pictures.
“It was when they had something to get from the industry
“They got what they wanted from the industry, and now the fishing industry wants something in return – keeping promises.”
Ahead of the July 13 debate, Mr Carmichael is demanding responses from the government on the many issues affecting or not yet impacting the UK fishing industry.
He claimed that the evidence he has amassed from the industry “illustrates a complete failure of the government.”
The MP warned: âThe questions will be short and to the point and will ask for answers.
“If ministers don’t respond, it will be obvious to the rest of the world that they have not kept the promises they made.
“They will have to understand that this is something that will not go away due to the wrath of the fishing industries over the way they have been treated.”