The opportunities and challenges of Brexit were in the spotlight at a meeting of the North East Scotland Fisheries Development Partnership in Aberdeen yesterday.
Scottish Fishermen’s Federation chief executive Bertie Armstrong used his now well-worn “sea of opportunity” phrase to describe the potential bounty for the Scots’ fleet after the UK quits the European Union.
This could deliver new jobs and a much-needed boost to the north-east economy following the oil and gas downturn, he said.
Seizing control over access to UK coastal waters would allow this country’s boats to catch a lot more fish and help to deliver “meaningful” regionalisation of fisheries management, he added.
Mr Armstrong said Brexit offered Scottish fishers a chance to break away from the “unworkable” Common Fisheries Policy, adding: “We could do so much better.”
Abundant North Sea fish stocks gave the UK a strong negotiating position for Brexit talks with the EU, while trade opportunities for Scottish seafood would not diminish after Brexit, he said.
He added: “What we need now is a commitment by all UK governments to a favourable outcome for fishing.”
Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP SNP Stewart Stevenson warned the industry was “intrinsically expendable” as Britain manoeuvres its way out of the EU.
Mr Stevenson also called for Rural Economy and Connectivity Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing to be at the heart of any negotiations on fishing, allowing the Scottish Government to keep track of “what offers and concessions are going to be made”.
Seafish is currently gathering views from across the sector in order to gauge the likely impact of Brexit.
Angus Garratt, the seafood trade body’s head of horizon scanning and long-term issues, told the meeting it was already clear there were “opportunities but also threats” in Brexit.
