Britain wants to decide how much access to its fishing grounds it gives after it leaves the European Union, according to a policy document on Wednesday.
/ 7:21 PM| Fish buyers talk as they wait for the daily auction to start at the fish market in Grimsby, Britain November 17, 2015. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo |
“As an independent coastal state for the first time in over 40 years, access to UK waters will be on our terms, under our control and for the benefit of UK fishermen,” food and environment minister Michael Gove said.
“This is consistent with the approach to fisheries taken by other coastal states including Norway,” he added.
The government wants to separate the issue of access to its waters from that of how much British fish is exported to the EU in its Brexit discussions with Brussels.
The idea of dividing the two matters, so that fish becomes part of an overall food and drink negotiation, is the foundation upon which the minority Conservative government has the support of the British fishing community.
That includes key parliamentary seats based in the North East of Scotland, where many voters backed Brexit because they say the current EU fishing quota system has gradually decimated their industry over decades.
The “white paper” policy document, which argues that the current EU fishing system is unfair and outdated, now has a 10 week consultation period.
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-fishing/uk-wants-to-set-own-fishing-access-rules-after-brexit-document
