A UK Government minister claimed yesterday that Scotland will have more control over its fishing fleet if voters choose to quit the EU.
Fishing Minister George Eustice was speaking on the eve of a visit to Peterhead, where he will talk to skippers as part of his campaign for a Brexit in June.
This is, despite his party leader and prime minister, David Cameron, insisting that continued membership of a reformed EU is the best way forward.
However, Mr Eustice’s Leave message is sure to resonate strongly with many people in an industry which has always been deeply suspicious of Brussels, and suffered swingeing cuts to quotas and fishing time under the controversial Common Fisheries Policy.
Mr Eustice said quitting the EU would deliver “unprecedented power” for Scotland in devolved areas such as fishing policy.
He also said he would want Scottish Fishing Minister Richard Lochhead at his side as part of a stronger voice for the UK in international quota talks.
He added: “We already have full engagement with the Scottish Government and I would want to take its representatives with me and have them alongside me in these sort of negotiations after a Brexit.
“Many of the powers gained through having our own seat at the table would flow straight back up to Scotland.”
Mr Eustice said a great many fishermen believed the UK had a “raw deal” under the current system, where quotas for some key stocks are negotiated between the EU, Norway, Iceland and the Faroes.
He stated: “Norway calls the shots when it comes to the North Sea. It has advantages as an independent country because it does have a seat at the table.”
The UK minister said a blue whiting deal struck with Norway in December highlighted the dangers of unilateral action by the European Commission. Scottish fishers later complained that Norway ended up with a disproportionate share of the shared stock.
Mr Eustice argued this and other examples would not have been allowed to happen if the UK had been given its own voice in the talks.
The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation is neutral on the issue of the referendum on EU membership, while the Scottish Government backs the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign.
Last night, Mr Lochhead said: “Mr Eustice needs to explain how Brexit would safeguard access to European markets for the vast majority of Scottish seafood exports that benefit from the current arrangements.
“He also needs to explain why the UK Government never pushed for further reforms of the CFP during the recent negotiations between David Cameron and the EU, prior to the prime minister calling the EU referendum”.
John Edward, senior campaign spokesman for Scotland Stronger In Europe, said: “The way to have a real say over fisheries is to stay in Europe – leaving is about the illusion, not reality.
“By promoting walking away from the negotiating table, Mr Eustice would remove the voice of all those whose high-quality goods are sold to markets elsewhere in the EU, leaving the industry at the mercy of decisions taken by others.”
