The EU Reset Deal – Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation reaction
The Labour Government’s manifesto does not mention the fishing industry, and since its time in power, it’s hard not to believe it was left out for good reason. In the short space of 10 months, we have seen nothing but taking away any hint of opportunity from the UK fishing industry and its surrounding coastal communities, and it’s now a wonder what else can Keir Starmer do to make more of a mess of our industry.
The UK-EU reset deal struck on the 19th May is as far away from the CFPO’s priorities as could be imagined. At least thirteen more years of guaranteed access for the EU fleet, all the way up to the six mile limit, no change in quota shares, and absolutely nothing in return that will mean anything for a fisherman on the deck of a boat.
How could this go so wrong when the UK held the most powerful card in the pack. Automatic access for EU fleets to fish in UK waters was scheduled to expire in June 2026. That card was surrendered on 19th May 2025, as the UK sought trade and other benefits from the post-Brexit deal. The lack of direct engagement from those at the very top who were responsible for making this deal is evident in the outcome. The CFPO priorities were clear and simple and not at all unreasonable, and not one has been met, or even come close.
For all of the hard work that Cornish fishermen have put in to shaping up the new post Brexit world under the UK Fisheries Act, attending countless meetings to ‘co-design’ new fisheries management plans, it all feels rather pointless given the outcome of this new trade deal. The lack of future opportunity the deal holds for our fishing businesses, our coastal communities, our next generation of fishermen, let alone our ability to manage our own seas will beg the question of any fisherman, why bother getting involved in fishing policy and politics ever again. Especially knowing that the EU will be marking our homework every step of the way. How far we are from being a true independent coastal state.
But allocating blame brings limited benefit. Realistically, there was always going to be a multi-year access deal for EU fleets. The geopolitics of the moment just do not allow for a bad-tempered breach between the UK and the EU at this juncture. It is the government’s complete failure to secure any quid pro quo in fishing terms that is breathtaking.
An exclusive 12mile limit would have marginal impacts on French, Belgian and Dutch fishing businesses but would have meant a great deal for the fishers struggling to make a living off the Southwest coasts.
A transfer of quota of stocks where there is an acute shortage (rather than paper fish) would have made a significant difference and would have signalled that this is a government that actually cares about fishing and was committed to securing its future.
When placed alongside the challenges ahead over fleet displacement by offshore renewable, this deal gives grounds to wonder.
But the world changes. Ukraine and Trump are proof of that. Any threat to an island nation’s food security would force a rapid change of priorities. That too is a thought worth considering.
In the meantime, the fishing industry will wonder how much of the £360 million allocated to the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund is ‘new money,’ how it will be spent, over what time period, how much will be siphoned off, and how much will go to support genuine fishing businesses and communities.
As so much in these negotiations and this reset deal, so much remains opaque.
