The UK in a Changing Europe: ‘Brexit has been a steep learning curve for all of us. It has forced us to wrap our heads around a number of issues – Article 50, statutory instruments, rules of origin, business motions in the House of Commons and the rest – with which we were, at best, only vaguely familiar. Fish and fisheries is another such issue. Absurd though it may seem, as the formal Brexit process reaches its endgame, fisheries might yet be the issue that determines whether the negotiations succeed or fail. Consequently, we at the UK in a Changing Europe have put together this short report to try to explain the basics about a sector that is frequently referred to yet rarely properly understood. The aim of what follows is to explain, as clearly and accessibly as possible, what is at stake in the negotiations over fisheries, what is being negotiated and what the implications of these talks might be for the sector. The report is the product of the hard work of a number of individuals. I’d like to express my thanks to Craig McAngus, who had the initial idea for the report, and to Chris Huggins, who oversaw the whole process and dealt with a huge number of questions and queries from us with alacrity and remarkable good humour. Catherine Barnard, Richard Barnes, Bryce Beukers-Stewart, Matthew Bevington, Griffin Carpenter, John Connolly and Arno Van Der Zwet all contributed key sections and I am grateful to them for taking the time to do so. Jill Rutter read and commented on innumerable drafts, while Aron Cheung again helped produce some wonderful graphics. As ever, Navyjot Lehl coordinated the whole process with cheerful efficiency. The UK in A Changing Europe exists to make the best social science research available and accessible to as wide an audience as possible. I very much hope that what follows helps clarify a key yet frequently misunderstood part of the Brexit saga. I’d welcome any comments you may have on it.

Professor Anand Menon, Director, The UK in a Changing Europe’

Click here to read the full report

The UK in a Changing Europe promotes rigorous, high-quality and independent research into the complex and ever changing relationship between the UK and the European Union (EU).  Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation, and based at King’s College London. It provides an authoritative, non-partisan and impartial reference point for those looking for information, insights and analysis about UK-EU relations that stands aside from the politics surrounding the debate.