Inverness skipper slams "shambles" Brexit deal

A Creelman says too much "red tape" is causing havoc to fishing exports following the UK's departure from the EU last month.

Christopher Fahy, from Inverness, was forced to sell prawns locally last week after being told by his distribution company they weren't going to be sold, despite being caught on the same day.

This comes as Scottish seafood lorries parked in central London earlier as the industry protested against being "tied in knots with paperwork'' by the Brexit fishing deal.

He said: "They have to be exported live otherwise we don’t get paid for them.

"The lorries are taking four days to get through and all the fish are dying in the lorries.

"It’s all getting dumped by the Quayside.

“There’s too much red tape and technical jargon at the moment.

"If things carry on, they’re going to have to compensate us because there’s people paying mortgages and business loans etc.

"It’s one of Scotland’s biggest exports, there’s so many people dependent on this, from small to massive boats.

"We’d rather be landing and exporting as normal."

Instead of seeing Friday's catch going to waste, the CamAnna skipper decided to sell his prawns to residents close to where he was fishing in Plockton, Wester Ross.

Christopher added: “I didn’t expect to get half the people I got.

"I know everyone is feeling the pinch due to lockdown, so for them to come out and buy a luxurious item such as prawns was incredible.

"We sold quite a lot which would’ve otherwise gone to waste.

"But one day a week isn’t going to cut the mustard.

"We need to be landing and exporting regularly and soon."

Footage showed a number of HGVs descending on roads near 10 Downing Street earlier today, in response to the issues they have faced in exporting seafood to the EU.

A number of Scottish seafood companies, as well as a few English ones, lined up on roads near Parliament Square in protest.

Many trucks were sporting messages, such as "Incompetent government destroying the seafood industry''.

Exports of fresh fish and seafood have been severely disrupted by delays since the UK's transition period ended on December 31.

Some Scottish fishermen have been landing their catch in Denmark to avoid the "bureaucratic system'' that exports to Europe now involve.

A spokesperson from DR Collin & Son, who were taking part in the protest, said: "We have been asked to take part in a peaceful protest with another 20-plus Shellfish Exporters from around the whole of the UK in connection with the current difficulties that the seafood industry is facing due to the new Brexit regulations.

"The industry is being tied in knots with paperwork requirements which would be easy enough to navigate, given that companies have put in the time and training in order to have all the relevant procedures in place for 1st January 2021.

"However, all the training is going to waste as the technology is outdated and cannot cope with the demands being placed on it - which in turn is resulting in no produce being able to leave the UK."

Foreign Secretary Dominic Rabb said yesterday that he's "not convinced" fishing businesses could collapse as a result of Government's trade deal with the European Union.

Mr Raab said: "The agreement we have struck - short term, medium term and long term - will create huge, sustainable opportunities.

"Of course we have always said as we leave the transition period with a deal, but even more if we hadn't found a deal, there will be some teething problems.

"We are very focused on working with all the different sectors, including the fishing industry, to resolve any of these teething problems.''