"Significant" concerns about new fisheries white paper

Access to waters and fishing opportunities will be negotiated on an annual basis in a similar approach as other coastal states including Norway, the Government said.

The draft fishing white paper sets out what UK ministers see as a “fairer” allocation of fishing opportunities, based on the distribution of fish stocks and moving away from a system based on fishing patterns from the 1970s.

It also includes a commitment to publishing an annual statement on health of fish stocks based on the latest scientific evidence, with comprehensive recovery plans to restore struggling stocks to healthy levels.

Industry leaders in the Scottish Fishermen's Federation have welcomed the document, saying it “moves towards a system under which we can catch much more of our own natural resource”.

SFF chief executive Bertie Armstrong said: “The white paper enshrines the important elements of a sustainable future for our industry - allowing the UK to become an independent coastal state, to take charge of who catches what and where, and to resist any attempt to link access to our waters to access to EU markets.''

The SFF has been “arguing for these key points consistently since the referendum in June 2016”, he added.

But Mr Armstrong said politicians would need to show real backbone in the Brexit negotiations to ensure that these aspirations become reality''.

Mr Ewing however raised concerns about whether some of the proposals in the white paper “are viable if we are to prevent overfishing and ensure sustainability”.

He added: “We are also deeply concerned that the paper does not appear to recognise the vital contribution that European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) monies have to the sustainable growth and success of the industry.

“The paper completely ignores the critical importance of ongoing access to labour for the seafood processing sector and, whilst acknowledging seafood trade as 'vital', provides no detail whatsoever on how seafood exports will be protected from potentially damaging trade barriers.

“We can only conclude from this that political considerations and undeliverable promises are far more important to the UK Government than the real needs of businesses and coastal communities, and economic reality.”

Mr Ewing continued: “Had the document been shared with us at an earlier stage, many of these issues might have been address through constructive engagement and dialogue.

“Unfortunately, by only sharing the final copy a matters of days before its publication, the UK Government chose to significantly limit the scope for that.

“I have repeatedly signalled my willingness to engage on a range of EU exit issues in good faith.

“However, I will continue to resolutely oppose any attempt to interfere with the established powers of the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish zone or Scottish vessels wherever they operate."