...without the usual personal jibes, arguments re politics etc... The latest report today of the ongoing negotiations state Barnier and Frost are still miles apart and one of the remaining key issue is the fishing rights. Now I know the French have made a big thing of this because Macron has 'stuck his oar' in and' nailed his colours to the mast' (sorry about the puns) as due to domestic politics he has sided heavily with French fishermen. Apparently it is often reported they can actually land more fish (bigger quotas??) in UK waters than the UK fishermen. I have no way of confirming that - someone on here may have access to the facts. However, my question is, if there is NO deal, what happens to the existing rights to access for foreign fishermen in our waters? Does it become a free-for all or do the EU fishermen lose all right of access to UK waters? Does thta also apply to Spanish and other 'foreign' fishing fleets. I know on the flip side UK fishermen lose access to their main market. Nevertheless, is it not in Macron's interest to ensure a deal is struck or is it an all or nothing scenario? Genuine question ,so can we avoid the usual revisiting of the same old arguments, abuse and political point scoring and just focus on the question? Ta!
Quotas for fishing in British waters were (in many cases) sold to foreign fleets for a quick profit. I believe the UK was the only country (in the EU) that allowed this practice. Legally, the UK government could probably stop the foreign vessels from entering British waters, but would have to compensate those who purchased the quotas legitimately (best case). The worst case is the French fishing fleet blockading Calais and causing problems with the ferries delivering food and other items to the UK.
A more pressing question, is grandfather pike still alive in tinkers pond and if so could he still jump out and eat your bmx?
Interesting. Thanks for that. Would those quotas 'sold' not be time limited and so expire? Also we have always been exposed and vulnerable to French militant action and blockades (usually French farmers or lorry drivers) regardless of whether we are in the EU or out of it albeit it has been a while since they resorted to such tactics . Quite often we were caught up in their domestic quarrels and just collateral damage.
Some interesting reading here. Not sure if the details are fully up to date, but I assume it's pretty accurate. Sadly, it fails to answer the question about grandfather pike. http://www.marinet.org.uk/who-owns-the-uk-fishing-industry-and-its-fishing-quotas.html
Thanks. Good find I'll have a read. Not that old and can't see much can have changed ,(yet) since it was written
