A senior UK Government figure, once tipped for Number 10, has said Brexit could bring back a fishing boom to north-east ports.
At Aberdeen University as part of the travelling exiting the EU select committee yesterday, Conservative MP Michael Gove said there were “real opportunities” to boost the number of people working in the beleaguered sector and “raise the standard of living” for fishermen.
The former education secretary and chief whip grew up in Aberdeen where he attended the city’s Robert Gordon College and later worked as a reporter at the Press and Journal.
North-east fishing communities voted heavily to leave in the June referendum, with many strongly opposing Brussels’ Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
But committee chair Labour MP Hilary Benn warned that Scots ports exported heavily to EU countries and the risk would have to be managed.
The committee, which met for the first time in Scotland, heard evidence from a number of prominent north-east industry figures including Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation and Michael Bates of the Scottish Seafood Association.
Mr Gove said: “We’ve had evidence… from people in the fishing industry who unsurprisingly see a big opportunity to manage some of the decline that the fishing industry has endured while we’ve been in the EU.
“When Norway lands three times as many fish as we do, and it’s a country comparable in size certainly to Scotland but smaller than the entire United Kingdom, dramatically smaller, it tells you there is huge potential areas of growth.
“Some of the evidence we heard seemed very strongly to suggest that there are fish processors and fisheries sectors in countries like the Faroes and in Norway and Iceland that have no problem getting access to the European Union so I think there are real, real opportunities not only to increase the number of people working in the area but to ensure they have higher standards of living as well.”
But Mr Benn said the industry still had challenges to face outside the EU.
He said: “I think some of the things we came across in the evidence today confirm the problems businesses face because of uncertainty about what the future may hold what will be our trading and market access for the European Union once we have left.
“About 50% of people who work in the fish processing industry come from other (EU) countries so what will be the arrangements for access to workers in the future? That will be very important.
“At the same time we are exporting a very significant amount of fish and seafood products to the European Union as well as other markets in the world.”
Last night the local fishing community welcomed Mr Gove’s remarks.
Peterhead skipper Jimmy Buchan – a vocal Leave campaigner – said now is the time to “champion” the north-east.
“I’m more confident now than I was during the vote,” he said. “There is still an element who are against it and want to change it but all I see are clear economic benefits.
“Maybe if you’re not in my trade it’s not so clear, but I can see more employment and economic benefits for coastal communities in Scotland.”
Fish trader Stephen Bruce said: “If we can get a good deal from the negotiations the future is rosy – as long as the government doesn’t sell away our rights.
“I can see the industry expanding if they negotiate a good deal.”
