Fishermen flag up strong Brexit deal

THOUSANDS of flags and stickers are appearing at fishing ports across the UK with the Brexit message ‘No Sell-Out’, as withdrawal negotiations with the EU edge towards a critical stage.
UK fishing groups hope the move will encourage British negotiators to stand firm against pressure from Brussels to maintain the status quo on access and quota shares, which they say are unfair.
Cornish fisherman and National Federation of Fishermen\’s Organisations (NFFO) chairman Andrew Pascoe, in a letter accompanying the flags, spelt out the message the industry is trying to put across.
He said: ‘As you will already be aware, we are exerting a huge effort to secure the best outcomes for the UK fishing industry, as the UK leaves the EU.
‘Meetings have been held and assurances received from the prime minister, as well as secretaries of state at Defra and Dexeu, that the UK will become an independent coastal state outside the Common Fisheries Policy, as the UK leaves the EU.
‘We know that the EU will strongly resist this change and, as part of any withdrawal agreement, will seek to tie the UK back into the current access arrangements and quota shares.
‘It is extremely important, therefore, that the UK government stands firm on fishing. To that end we have met with all the main political editors and held a very successful lobby day in parliament attended by around 50 parliamentarians from right across the political spectrum.’
Pascoe said that to back up these efforts, it was important to maintain visible support in the ports, which is why the fishermen had produced a large number of flags, banners and stickers to display on vessels, their wheelhouses and at fish markets.
Picture: NFFO chairman Andrew Pascoe