News / Public support for CFP exit
THE SCOTTISH fishing industry has said it has powerful public support for the UK taking back control of its fishing grounds when the country leaves the EU in March 2019.
A YouGov poll, commissioned by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF), found that 79 per cent of voters who expressed an opinion believe the country should exit the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) right away or following a short bridging period.
A similar number of voters believe that the UK should control access to its own waters, compared with just 17 per cent who think the country should continue to abide by EU rules.
The Guardian newspaper reported last week that Brussels insists Britain should continue to be governed by the CFP during the transition period until 2021, in stark contrast to the position of UK fishing leaders.
But just 15 per cent of those asked in the YouGov poll thought the UK should only regain control of its waters at the end of a two-year transition period, while just six per cent were in favour of remaining in the CFP.
There is also a continued worry among Scottish politicians of all parties that fishing rights might be traded away as part of the Brexit trade negotiations.
Isles MP Alistair Carmichael said there was “the distinct possibility” that access to UK waters would be traded for access to the single market.
He said he quizzed Prime Minister Theresa May several times on the issue, and added: “Every time she doesn’t answer the question, I feel more concerned.”
A white paper on how the UK would manage its fisheries once Britain leaves the EU is now expected to be published towards the end of this month.
The poll results come as senior SFF figures attend further talks with the UK Government to discuss fishing post-Brexit.
The industry has been united in lobbying both the UK and Scottish governments for a fast exit from the CFP within nine months of Brexit in March 2019.
SFF chief executive Bertie Armstrong said: “It is clear that there is overwhelming public support for the UK to regain control of what is after all part of its natural capital – the fish stocks around our shores.
“It is pleasing that voters have also been persuaded that it makes sense for us to leave the CFP within the early stages of the transition period. Due to the nature of the annual international fisheries calendar, that is by December 2019.
“Whatever people may think about Brexit, there is broad agreement that for our fishing communities there is a Sea of Opportunity ahead and we should get on with making the most of it.”
The YouGov poll of 1,631 people was carried out on 11 and 12 January.
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