Irish and UK fishers say Brexit outcome is not a good deal

Irish and UK fishers say the EU:UK Brexit trade agreement brokered on Christmas eve is not a good deal and fails their respective industries.

The trade deal, which comes into effect on January 1, secures continued and full reciprocal access to fish in each other’s waters until June 30, 2026 with a ‘gradual and balanced reduction of EU quotas in UK waters [agreed at 25%] over time’.

Speaking in the House of Commons (14/01), George Eustice, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said this would see their fish catches increase from roughly 50% to 75% at the end of the multi-annual agreement. The transfer of quota is “front loaded with the EU giving up 15% in year 1”, he noted.

North Sea cod will increase from 47% to 57%; Celtic Sea haddock, from 10% to 20%; North Sea hake increases from 18% to 54% and West of Scotland anglerfish from 47% to 45%.

New arrangement

The agreement sets out new arrangements for the joint management of over 100 shared fish stocks. From 2026 onwards, the parties will hold annual consultations to agree on fishing opportunities ‘with a view to sustainable management of fisheries and marine resources while preserving the activities and livelihoods of fishing communities reliant on those waters and resources’, the European Commission has confirmed.

Welcoming the deal, Ireland’s marine minister Charlie McConalgoue however conceded it contained “unwelcome elements” despite Ireland “continually putting forward the strongest possible case for the sectors”.

The minister emphasised that Brexit always had the potential to impact “very negatively” on the fishing industry:

“It was crucial that a ‘no-deal’ outcome be avoided – not just because of its potential negative impact on trade – but also because of its very serious implications for the fishing industry as a result of access being denied to UK waters and displacement of EU fleets into Ireland’s fishing zone.”

The deal, he said, came at a price that will see EU vessels conceding some of the fish previously caught in UK waters:

“I know that it will have real impact on our fishing fleet and coastal communities. Government will work hard with the industry to do all it can in supporting and addressing these challenges.”

He said government would examine the wider economic impacts that will arise, and would consider developing “appropriate and targeted supports, including through engagement with the European Commission on the Brexit Adjustment Reserve”.

From January 1, new sanitary and phytosanitary requirements (documentary, identity and physical checks) will apply to imports of animals, plants and products of animal and plant origin from Great Britain, as set out in EU regulation.

“The seamless trading arrangements in place while the UK was a member of the Single Market will no longer be possible, and disruption and additional costs will arise, Minister McConalogue cautioned.

Industry reaction
Patrick Murphy, chief executive of the Irish South & West Fish Producers Organisation, said that throughout the negotiations that began in June 2016 when the UK voted to leave the European Union, he had “pleaded” with government to seek a policy that would protect Ireland’s spawning grounds and the Biologically Sensitive Area off Ireland’s the south and west coasts:

“It is our human right as Irish fishers to fish in the seas around our coasts of our island nation.”

A new European fisheries policy that acknowledges ‘zonal attachment’ (the share of a stock residing within a particular country’s economic zone, if necessary weighted by the time it spends in a country’s zone over a year) determines the share that each country gets of the total catch quota for that stock.

“The ISWFPO calls for our Taoiseach Micheál Martin to [treat] the fishermen in Ireland’s EEZ no differently to fishermen in the UK (including Northern Irish fishermen). Fish in our waters must now also be governed under zonal attachment and must not be taken from Irish fishermen and given to others while ignoring the plight of our coastal communities…”

Seán ODonoghue, chief executive of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation which represents the majority of Ireland’s mackerel fishermen, said the deal demonstrated the “duplicitous nature of the protracted negotiations” and that the “repeated guarantees” given to Irish fishermen had effectively been shredded.

The four and a half years of agreements have for all intent and purposes been “dishonoured by the negotiators” he added.

“We will not stand idly by and allow decades of investment in developing a successful enterprise to be sacrificed by the shape of this very poor deal.

“In spite of seismic effort to redress the imbalance of the proposed deal… not enough has changed and our highly-development mackerel fishery stands to lose out dramatically,” he added.

Irish exports of mackerel in 2019 reached almost 55,000 tonnes, valued at €95m. “Make no mistake, we will be seeking compensation from our EU colleagues to put right this grievous wrong.

UK reaction

The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisation has described the change in UK quota shares as it leaves the EU and the CFP as “miniscule, marginal, paltry and pathetic. After a further five years adjustment period, the UK’s share of Channel cod will have increased from 9.3% to 10.2%”, remarked Barrie Deas, chief executive.

He added:

“The UK’s share of Celtic Sea haddock will have increased from 10% to 20%, leaving 80% in the hands of the EU fleets for a further five years.

“North Sea saithe: UK share increases from 23% to 26%, again, in steps over 5 years, leaving the lion’s share in EU hands.

“In the meantime, EU fleets have free access to fish in UK waters – including up to six miles of the shoreline in the areas where it matters.

“Throughout the fishing industry there is a profound sense of disillusionment, betrayal, and fury that after all the rhetoric, promises and assurances, the Government caved-in on fish.

“This was a decision taken at the highest political levels and it is important that responsibility is taken for the choices made. This is no time for spin.

“It is unlikely that obstacles in the road will now derail the ratification process, but the fishing industry will want it clearly understood that the best opportunity in a generation for a different and better future has been squandered.

Urgent meeting

During a fallout webinar (28/12) with fishing representatives, Taoiseach Micheál Martin acknowledged the negative impact on the fishing industry:

“A no-deal would have been far worse but nonetheless one has to acknowledge the significant negative impact, particularly on the mackerel, prawn and some others to a lesser extent. We have commenced a serious of engagements… to work our way through this and it will be on the Cabinet agenda as well,” he said.

A concern for the industry is the “unfair and disproportionate” share Ireland was expected to bear “in order to ensure a deal was agreed”, remarked Patrick Murphy.

“Our industry agreed that the basis for the current Common Fisheries Policy is now so altered that the rules governing how this resource is shared and allocated between the fishing nations of Europe are no longer viable. The basis for the current CFP must be changed and changed utterly.