The fish traded from the EU to the UK will be subjected to tariffs if there is a non-deal Brexit.

Post Brexit fish tariffs and trans-border fishing deal raise concern

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Thursday, March 14, 2019, 23:50 (GMT + 9)

Fish trade from the European Union to Britain will be subject to a range of tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit but there will be zero tariffs for a series of goods across the Irish Border. 

These zero tariffs on goods traded from the Republic to Northern Ireland are set under the temporary measures announced by the UK government proposing that should Britain leave the EU without a deal, no new customs checks or controls would be introduced on the border between the Republic and Northern Ireland, as it was reported in Afloat.

However, tariffs would still apply on goods moving from the EU into the rest of Britain via Northern Ireland.

Despite this new regime zero-rates tariffs across many imports into Britain after a no-deal Brexit, agri-food products are among the listed exceptions, with a range of rates applying.

Fish and seafood will be subject to a range of import tariffs from 7.5 per cent for frozen monkfish meat (excluding fillets) to 24 per cent for prepared or preserved tuna (excluding bluefin).

A rate of 12 per cent will apply to frozen crustaceans, while frozen fish will be hit with 8 per cent charges, with fillets levied an extra per cent.

Meanwhile, opposition senators are urging the Government to consult with the fishing industry before passing legislation which would restore an informal agreement to allow Irish and Northern Irish trawlers fish a six-mile zone between Ireland and the UK, RTE informed.

It must be recalled that Voisinage agreement was struck down following a Supreme Court challenge in 2016.

The UK continues to recognise the Voisinage agreement so Irish vessels remain free to fish inshore waters around Northern Ireland, but Northern Irish vessels do not have reciprocal rights.

A spokesman for Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Michael Creed said the Government is committed to ensuring reciprocal access for Irish and Northern Irish vessels within the six nautical mile zone and to formally underpinning voisinage arrangements by law.

The Seanad is due to discuss the Irish fisheries (amendment) bill on Thursday, with the Government having hoped to have used the final day before the St Patrick's Day break until March 26 to sign off on the Seanad's part in the committee and report stages of the bill.

This would have allowed the Government to fast-track the bill to ensure it is also passed through the Dáil and signed into law by President Michael D Higgins before the Friday March 29 Brexit UK-EU divorce date.

Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin senators raised concerns that members of the fishing industry had not been consulted on the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill.

It is understood both parties, and Independents, are strongly of the view the bill must undergo further industry scrutiny and that the stand-off has nothing to do with constituency issues in fishing-dominated communities.

Similarly, it is believed that even if the bill does not pass report stage on Thursday, there will be time in the final days before Brexit for the bill to become law.
 
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