A strike by Icelandic fishermen that threatened supply to Grimsby’s seafood cluster has been called off.
Vessel owners and most of the fisherman have reached an agreement on salaries, with fleets returning to fishing grounds today.
The agreement will now go to vote, with the negotiation team hopeful it will be accepted.
Vessels were tied up at 11pm on Thursday, with issues centred around a new payment system. There were also concerns about changes to crew numbers.
A smaller local dispute is ongoing with fishermen in Grindavik, which is to be negotiated locally.
Grimsby’s seafood leaders had been bracing themselves for a supply shortage, but with cod and haddock already on the water in freezer containers for this week when it was declared, any impact will be marginal.
Martyn Boyers, chief executive of Grimsby Fish Market operator Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises, said: “I’m reassured about the coming week’s supply now. Something like 80 per cent of the fishermen are back to work.
“It was never going to be a long strike, they need to work.”
Had it been protracted a delegation was set to visit the close trading partner.
Andrew Moorcroft ‘a fish merchant on the street’ who supplies restaurants and pubs, said he hopes the recent Brexit vote will help focus attention on UK fleet catch, abroad and in Westminster, to prevent such scares in future.
The town’s smaller operators rely on the market, where 75 per cent of the usual supply is Icelandic.
“I find it bizarre we are reliant on other countries,” he said. ” We are almost totally dependent on foreign catches.”
Ironically the vast majority is brought in from non-EU countries, namely Iceland and Norway, but EU regulations have been seen as limiting fishing waters and opportunities.
“We may go over and make a noise about our fish supply, and they say they are aware of Grimsby’s needs, but if people understand the strength of feeling here, the resounding votes on Brexit here and in Hull, then they may realise where we stand,” Mr Moorcroft said.
“We are not going to get a fleet of trawlers over night, but if there is pressure there, it might make people listen. “Politicians certainly have to listen to the people now.”
Mr Boyers said a crystal ball was needed to work out the position post-Brexit and the implications for the town.
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