A leading fisherman says Brexit “delivered nothing” for the industry, as the UK marks three years since officially leaving the European Union.
Mike Park, the chief executive of the Fraserburgh-based Scottish White Fish Producers’ Association, said fishermen were the “poster boys” for Brexit in Scotland, and many spoke out in favour of leaving the EU.
Three years on he says most fishermen have now reassessed their attitude, saying it has left a number of “very negative legacies” for the industry and its workers.
The UK voted to leave Europe in 2016 but only formally left on January 31, 2020.
Speaking on the third anniversary of Brexit, Mr Park – who has spoken previously of the opportunities of Brexit – said: “We were the poster boys, we wanted out.
“But a lot have now reassessed their enthusiasm for Brexit because it has delivered nothing.
“It has left some very negative legacies and hasn’t provided any of the positives we were promised.”
One of the big problems facing the industry is immigration.
Scotland relies heavily on workers from Eastern Europe who no longer come to work in the UK in the same numbers.
Another problem is fishing quotas.
Before Brexit, the EU would set how much of each species of fish each member country could take from the water in a year.
If one country fell short of its quotas, the deficit could be transferred to another country.
This is something the UK can no longer do because it is no longer part of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy.