First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon. (Photo: The Scottish Government)
Scottish first minister participates in fishing industry summit on Brexit impact
UNITED KINGDOM
Friday, August 17, 2018, 00:00 (GMT + 9)
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon will participate in a summit on the Brexit impact on Scotland’s fishing and seafood sector out of concerns about how the exit from the EU will affect seafood exports.
The roundtable discussion, on issues such as mitigation measures, and the future of fisheries management in Scotland, will include representatives from the fishing, processing and aquaculture industry as well as environmentalists, port authorities and people from the food and drink sector, The Scotsman reported.
“The Scottish seafood sector has gone from strength to strength in recent years and is an important part of our economy - but the UK Government’s lack of clarity on how the industry will be affected by Brexit is putting the livelihoods of workers and communities at risk,” pointed out Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing, who is also attending the summit.
In addition, Secretary Ewing stated that with seafood exports to the EU worth GBP 725 million last year, the industry needs an assurance that it can continue to easily access EU markets, adding that negotiations need to address fears over increased trade barriers, customs delays, EU labour and funding.
Furthermore, the secretary stressed the Scottish Government position that continuing membership of the customs union and single market would be the “least damaging” Brexit and welcomed the summit as an opportunity to hear the seafood sector’s concerns in the absence of any realistic UK Government position.
The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation was strongly in favour of Brexit during the referendum campaign, with the organisation describing it as a “sea of opportunity”. But industry groups have expressed concern over the prospect of the UK remaining within the Common Fisheries Policy after leaving the EU, with Tory MSP Douglas Ross critical of plans to remain in the group for two years, during a post-Brexit transition.
According to Holyrood Magazine, with EU member states accounting for seven out of 10 of Scottish seafood’s current top overseas export markets, and 79 per cent of the sector’s exports outside the UK, the First Minister will hold talks on how to mitigate the effect of Brexit on the industry.
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