Investigation launched into impact of Brexit on Plymouth's fishing industry
Nearly 2,000 jobs rely on this trade and there have been reports of severe disruption to deliveries
Plymouth City Council is to investigate the impact of Brexit on the local fishing industry after reports of major problems with exports to mainland Europe.
Cllr Darren Winter told councillors that nearly 2,000 jobs relied on the fishing industry in Plymouth. He announced a special session by the Brexit scrutiny panel in February to hear evidence from the sector.
"We recognised during negotiations with the EU that there was the potential for growth in our industry, as outlined in our Plan For Sustainable Fishing which was scrutinised last year.
"However it has been 24 days since the Government-negotiated Trade and Co-operation deal with the EU has kicked in and it is clear that there are genuine issues with our industry and its ability to do business – with fish rotting in lorries, and the industry protesting and trying to raise legitimate concerns which are being dismissed as teething problems or even worse being blamed."
Councillor Darren Winter
Demonstrations were held outside government departments in central London last week by exporters, including from Devon, who warned their livelihoods were under threat.
There have been reports of severe disruption to exports of fresh fish and seafood due to new border controls since the the end of the transition period following the UK’s departure from the EU free trade zone.
The Government has promised £23million to help firms hit by delays which were not their fault. Industry representatives have said that extra paperwork has made it difficult to deliver fresh produce to mainland Europe, which is a major market for UK-landed produce.
Cllr Winter told a meeting of the full council on Monday that the Brexit scrutiny panel would hear from the fishing industry at a meeting on Tuesday, February 12, to find out what help they needed.
Prime minister Boris Johnson told reporters last week that he understood the frustrations of the fishing industry and said its plight had been worsened by the coronavirus pandemic. He said demand on the Continent had been hit because restaurants had closed during lockdowns.