Interesting development – this phrase might spark some interest in other marine sectors …’that negotiations regarding fisheries should not be entangled with non-fisheries issues’

The UK’s two main representative organisations for commercial fishermen – the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) and the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) – have agreed upon common principles to ensure the best possible deal for coastal communities in the forthcoming Brexit negotiations.

The two federations met in Edinburgh on Friday 25 November and agreed the key outcomes they want to achieve from negotiations to leave the EU. Fishermen across the UK have welcomed Brexit as providing a historic opportunity to secure significant economic benefit to coastal communities once the UK regains control of its 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). At the meeting between the two federations, it was agreed that they would seek the following outcomes from Brexit:

• Fairer shares of catching opportunity for UK vessels.
• Full control over access to the UK EEZ by fishing fleets.
• Creation of a fit-for-purpose management and regulation system, including a grass roots revision of fisheries management based on sustainable harvesting and sound science.
• Establishment of mutually beneficially trading relationships with the EU and other countries.

The federations also agreed that there must be no roll-over of the current Common Fisheries Policy and that negotiations regarding fisheries should not be entangled with non-fisheries issues.

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