Time-consuming new customs and health paperwork is sparking long delays, with one Scottish fishing business losing £50,000 on a single consignment.
In another alarming development, fish prices have plummeted by 80 per cent at Peterhead Fish Market, while a third of Scotland’s fishing fleet is tied up in the harbour. Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has secured an urgent question in Parliament tomorrow (Thursday) morning at 10.30am, in which he will address the devastating impact the Government’s trade deal with the EU is having on the industry
Alistair Carmichael said: “After a week of intensifying disruption for seafood exporters and with long-term challenging from the deal as well, I am glad to have secured this urgent question to hold the Government to account. I would urge businesses affected by the trading changes to contact me so that we can put the strongest possible case to the Minister.” ENDS |
* Cllr. Tahir Maher is a member of the LDV editorial team
5 Comments
It just shows how economically illiterate this government have become.
They think that catching fish is the be-all-and-end-all,
When being able to sell the fish caught is the important thing for the fishing industry.
@Alan Jelfs
When apparently the fisheries minister can’t even be bothered to do the most basic aspect of her job – reading and understanding how the ‘trade deal’ would affect fishing why should anyone be surprised?
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/fisheries-minister-admits-not-reading-brexit-bill-as-she-was-at-nativity/ar-BB1cJj7J
Because of the late hour of the final agreement the sensible thing for the Gov/EU to do
was to extend our period in the EU say until the 1stApril 2021, Surely a good date!!
Then documentation checking could have started say 1st Feb, and any errors pointed out
but let the cargo through. In that way documentation should be perfect come 1st April.
Did we press for this?
Not only the fisheries minister apparently…
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-trade-deal-text-boris-johnson-b1787270.html
“Downing Street has signalled that Boris Johnson has not read the full text of his EU trade deal, telling reporters only that the prime minister was “fully aware” of its contents.”
What amazes me is that many of us could have told them what was likely to happen if we left the EU.
The fun and games will really start when our financial services sector, our main money earner, has to negotiate how to sell its wares within the single market.