Agenda item

Brexit Scrutiny (Fishing) Recommendations

Meeting of Cabinet, Tuesday 9 March 2021 2.00 pm (Item 124.)

Minutes:

Councillor Darren Winter and Kevin McKenzie (Policy and Intelligence Advisor) presented this item.

Councillor Winter presented a video with extracts from fishermen sharing their concerns around the UK’s exit from the EU and Customs Union and how there had been gaps in the government’s strategy which had impacted fishermen and exporters.

Concerns included:

·	There would be a 5% difference in exporting to the continent, however it was proposed that there would be a quota improvement to offset this difference, this hasn’t materialised and the government has traded this away.
·	The Norwegian style deal doesn’t allow EU vessels in their waters until quota shares had been organised. The UK no longer had that leverage.
·	Supermarkets were not supporting British fishermen and weren’t pushing British produce.
·	We need a smooth throughput, currently there was an additional 1000 miles to the Journey to get product to market.
·	There had been extra costs to exporters such as additional container rentals; additional mileage; additional driver hours; re-arranging logistics; additional veterinary costs; additional admin and operational costs; loss of sales; additional costs in freezing fish; loss of cells. The seafood disruption support scheme requires an invoice to be raised to claim funds.

Cabinet members agreed unanimously to call on the government to recognise: -

That the Trade and Cooperation agreement fails to deliver on the promises that were made to British fishermen, and, that insufficient effort was made by ministers to prepare for foreseeable problems that would accompany the UK’s departure from the single market and customs union at the end of the Brexit transition period.

Government is asked to: -

A/	UK territorial waters
·	Consider regulatory measures based on scientific evidence that will help protect the interests of the UK inshore fleet.
·	Continue to seek a fairer share of the quota in the western channel for Cod, Haddock and Sole that are important to the South West fleet.
B/
·	Extend the scope and duration of the compensation scheme to fully cover the cost of the additional burdens placed on the fishing industry until at least 1st April 2022;
·	Lead on the integration and digitalisation of regulatory data systems so that data can be shared electronically with industry to support exports; and
·	Negotiate facilitation measures based on common or equivalent animal health and food safety standards to reduce the frequency of physical checks and extend the use of electronic certification.
C/	Support local fishing communities
·	Utilise the crown procurement service and public sector purchasing power to stimulate the domestic market for seafood and support schemes to get fresh locally caught fish to consumers;
·	Ensure the voice of coastal communities with a stake in the industry is heard by giving local authorities a statutory role in developing fisheries management plans; and,
·	Invest in the workforce of the future by establishing suitable apprenticeship schemes; and,
·	Provide funds to upgrade the infrastructure the industry depends on, the quays and auctions, whether they are in private or public ownership.
That Cabinet agreed to:
D/	Measures we can promote as a regional response or take independently
·	Work with Brittany Ferries, Associated British Ports and our partners across the South West peninsula, and in Brittany and Finisterre to secure the Plymouth/Roscoff trade route;
·	Maintain a direct sales market with support for branding and selling of locally caught fish and work with CATERed to put fish on school meals menus.
·	Continue to work with the industry locally, to improve the facilities at Sutton Harbour including a wet fish sales outlet, and to promote marine safety.

Supporting documents: