Fisheries Management

I highlighted the impact of the Norwegian fishing deal on UK fisheries, emphasising the need for a trade remedy. The cost and bureaucracy in exporting fish to the EU have increased dramatically since Brexit, with export costs tripling from 32p per kilo to £1 per kilo due to additional paperwork requirements. I urged the Government to streamline these processes to reduce administrative burdens on fishing businesses.

Mangnall congratulated the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland on his speech, highlighted the importance of the fishing industry in Brixham, Salcombe and Dartmouth, and praised the efforts of Jim Portus and Juliette Hatchman. He emphasised the need for political will to support the industry's opportunities post-Brexit and mentioned the progress made by the Food Standards Agency regarding bivalve molluscs. Mangnall also expressed concerns about highly protected marine areas and advocated for collaboration between fishermen and regulators. He noted the importance of timely implementation of the £100 million fisheries and seafood scheme, and discussed the need for certainty in the future relationship with the EU after 2026. Highlighted the work of the National Coastwatch Institution, mentioning its thousands of volunteers and significant stations. Acknowledged visits to Brixham where he met people dedicated to the fishing industry, emphasizing their expertise in managing fisheries sustainably.

Fishermen in Argyll and Bute are struggling with falling prices, loss of markets, bureaucracy, labour shortages, and logistical problems due to Brexit. Jonathan MacAllister has seen his catch price fall by a third since 2019; Fiona McFarlane's company faces worker shortages, while Connie Macaskill's office is burdened with French customs and VAT regulations.

Paid tribute to the fishing industry for its resilience during difficult times, highlighting the importance of flexible and sustainable management.

Discussed the challenges faced by Scotland's fishing industry due to Brexit, including reduced market access and administrative burdens. Highlighted a £2 billion loss in EU sales and expressed frustration over lack of transparency from the Government.

Mr Jamie Stone discussed the challenges faced by local fishing businesses due to increased transportation costs and unfair inspection rates. He highlighted issues such as price hikes from hauliers, aggressive behaviour at sea among foreign boats, and proposed penalties for disruptive vessels, suggesting a roundtable meeting with industry representatives.

The MP expressed gratitude for the restoration of access to Ireland's inshore waters and called on the Minister to resolve issues with territorial seas around the island. He highlighted displacement of fishing effort due to the hard fisheries sea border and urged better communication between statutory authorities and the fishing industry. Shannon also requested adaptive management approaches and expressed concerns about offshore wind farms affecting fish spawning grounds.

Ms Saville-Roberts expressed concern over the disruption faced by UK fisheries post-Brexit, particularly in Wales. She highlighted the Welsh shellfish industry's struggles with losing access to main export markets and ongoing uncertainty regarding water classification impacts. The MP noted the lack of devolved control over territorial waters for Wales, questioning why this was allowed without consulting the Welsh Government. She also raised concerns about displacement risks due to marine conservation measures and wind farm expansion, advocating for Crown Estate devolution to support holistic fisheries management.

The right hon. Gentleman spoke for 11 minutes and 30 seconds, exceeding the initial 12-minute limit agreed by the Chair. Mr Parish highlighted several issues within the fisheries sector, including difficulties accessing Norwegian waters for cod fishing, problems with class B waters for shellfisheries trade, limitations on international quota swaps impacting companies' flexibility in quota management, and underrepresentation of English viewpoints in fisheries discussions. He also advocated for increased capital allowances to encourage investment in new boats and gear. He asked how quickly the money could be provided to the shellfishing industry, as delays might result in many businesses going out of operation.

He highlighted the lack of transparency in recent fisheries negotiations and criticised the agreement not to enforce tonnage limits for non-quota species, which he argued would advantage EU fleets and damage the English inshore fleet. He also emphasised the need for sustainable management of fishing stocks, improved support for the inshore fleet, banning bottom-trawling in marine protected areas, managing the southern North Sea as a mixed species fishery, and using data to better manage conflicts between fishing and other marine activities.

Ms Chamberlain expressed concern about the challenges faced by the fishing industry, including issues such as changes in consumer taste, overfishing, and the climate emergency. She highlighted the short-term impact of COVID-19 and Brexit on the industry. The Select Committee on Scottish Affairs sessions revealed a sense of disappointment and anxiety among industry representatives regarding how the Government handled the UK's departure from the EU.