Scottish fishermen fear new trade agreement could have a catch

It’s 9am in Peterhead, and most business has already been done for the day.

Boxes of fish have been unloaded and sold at the largest white fish market in Europe, and the boats don’t hang around.

They’re refuelled, the hold is refilled with ice, and then they’re off.

So I needed to walk at a brisk pace to speak to skippers before they headed back to sea.

On Monday, a summit between the UK and the EU is taking place in London, and fishing rights are on the agenda.

Both sides have abided by the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement since Brexit five years ago.

Under the agreement, 25% of the existing EU quota in UK waters has been transferred to the British fleet over a five-and-a-half-year period, which ends in June next year.

As the clock ticks down on the current arrangement, fishermen are taking stock of what a new deal could look like.

David Milne, a former skipper and chairman of the Scottish White Fish Producers Association, said: “We’ve had a bit of stability created with this current arrangement. The guys have just gotten on with it because at least we know what’s been happening.

“We could negotiate annually going forward, but if it’s a five-year deal the EU want, they’re going to have to pay for it, they won’t get it for free.”

Reports suggest the UK could trade some of its fishing rights for a multibillion-pound defence deal with the EU and that a four-year deal could be negotiated.

The Cabinet Office has tried to dispel the rumours, but they are already causing concern within the fishing fleet.

A short drive away in Fraserburgh, William Reid is making last-minute tweaks on his new boat.

He said: “If we’re linked in with a defence deal, that would be a disaster for the fishing fleet.

“I campaigned for Brexit, but nothing has improved. We’ve not felt the benefit.

“With the quotas, there are more restrictions, and we can’t get any youth back into the sector, which is the biggest problem, as there’s no confidence in the sector.”

There was initially hope that Brexit would allow UK boats to increase their quotas, taking a greater share of fish than they did previously.

But some fishermen fear they’ll be able to catch less, and are concerned about the knock-on effect for Scotland’s coastal communities.

Others have raised safety concerns, arguing there have already been incidents of foreign boats coming dangerously close to Scottish boats while they’re trawling.

As we enter the re-negotiation period, a Cabinet Office spokesperson added: “We will protect the interests of our fishers and fulfil our international commitments to protect the marine environment.”

The Scottish Government have not been invited to next week’s talks.

But Mairi Gougeon, cabinet secretary for rural affairs, said it was essential “that we see an outcome that delivers benefits to our entire seafood sector”.

There will be a lot up for discussion at the UK EU Summit on Monday, not least of all fishing.