Scottish fishermen eviscerate Boris Johnson’s ‘desperately poor’ Brexit deal in indignant letter as losses mount

Boris Johnson’s “desperately poor” Brexit deal has left Scottish fishermen with losses mounting by the day and lots of companies fearing for his or her survival, the trade’s commerce physique has stated in a scathing letter to the prime minister.

Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) chief government Elspeth MacDonald accused Mr Johnson of deceptive the general public in regards to the settlement and giving the trade “the worst of both worlds”.

“You and your government have spun a line about a 25 per cent uplift in quota for the UK, but you know this is not true, and your deal does not deliver that,” Ms MacDonald wrote.

The prime minister’s said strategy, often known as “zonal attachment”, would have secured British boats as much as 90 per cent of the catch in  UK waters for vital shares akin to herring. Instead the deal truly means the UK share of the herring catch is simply 32.2 per cent and for different fish is even decrease, whereas EU boats have “unfettered” entry to British waters.

“This can hardly be claimed as a resounding success,” Ms MacDonald wrote.

“Of major concern, however, is the outcome for many key whitefish species. Your deal actually leaves the Scottish industry in a worse position on more than half of the key stocks and now facing acute problems with North Sea cod and saithe in particular.

“This industry now finds itself in the worst of both worlds. Your deal leaves us with shares that not only fall very far short of zonal attachment, but in many cases fail to ‘bridge the gap’ compared to historic catches, and with no ability to leverage more fish from the EU, as they have full access to our waters. 

“This, coupled with the chaos skilled since 1 January in getting fish to market implies that many in our trade now concern for his or her future, moderately than look ahead to it with optimism and ambition.”

The stinging rebuke got here as Scottish fishermen noticed orders cancelled by EU prospects after delays on the border meant perishable shellfish was failing to reach at its vacation spot on time.

The SFF reported fish costs plunging at wholesale markets earlier this week and one fish processor threatened to dump unsold catch exterior Downing Street in protest.

SNP shadow atmosphere secretary Deidre Brock stated the SFF’s verdict on Brexit was “utterly devastating”, significantly provided that fishing was one of many trade’s that the federal government had particularly highlighted as seeing tangible advantages from leaving the EU.

Ms Brock added: “Scotland’s fishing trade is correct to be indignant about all of the Tory lies and damaged guarantees on Brexit, and the devastating actuality of Boris Johnson’s deal, which is costing Scotland’s fishing communities thousands and thousands of kilos in misplaced income, mounting prices, purple tape and limitations to commerce.

“The prime minister must urgently deliver a multi-billion pound package of Brexit compensation for Scotland – to mitigate the damage his Tory deal has done to our economy. This must include major compensation for fishing businesses and communities who have been hit hard.”