Fishermen around the UK have been “devastated” by fresh problems with exporting their produce to the EU, after the government admitted that exports of live mussels, oysters, scallops and certain other shellfish would be subject to ongoing restrictions.
Those are all classified as ‘live bivalve molluscs’ – a category which also includes cockles and clams. Under longstanding EU rules catches of live bivalve molluscs from non-EU member states can only be imported without treatment if they come from waters deemed of the highest quality. Vessels from non-EU states also cannot land live bivalve molluscs in EU ports.
These rules have closed off many exports of live bivalve molluscs from the UK, since Brexit took full effect. The market for such shellfish is a small and specialist one, valued at less than £12m a year, but for the small number of fishermen who operate in it, it is often their main livelihood.
Other shellfish, such as langoustines, crab and lobster, which are of much greater economic importance, are not affected by these rules. After Brexit, UK fishermen are already facing widespread problems exporting their catch.
The rules, and the disruption their enforcement has caused for fishermen, first reported on the PoliticsHome website, cannot be termed a “teething problem” as other red tape has been, because they will apply permanently under Brexit, unless the government can forge a fresh agreement with the EU to make exceptions for UK produce.
The fishing industry called on the government to do more to try to resolve the problem. Barrie Deas, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, said: “This is devastating for those involved, and it cannot be left as a closed issue. Those of our members who produce mussels and cockles in particular are affected and are very seriously impacted – no exports to the EU as the UK is now a third country. This has to be sorted at government-to-government level and our understanding is that talks are under way, but so far without producing a satisfactory outcome.”
Alistair Sinclair, chair of the Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation, blamed the French president, Emanuel Macron, as well as the UK government for the difficulties, and warned that they were a foretaste of future negotiations. “This is possibly a demonstration of the difficulties that lie ahead should the UK think that they are truly going to take control of their waters. We are on a hiding to nothing as Europe will do all they can to protect opportunities for their fishing fleets,” he said. “Throughout the whole run-up to Brexit, our voice was not considered by the Scottish government and indeed the Tory grandees.”
Fishermen could try to comply with the regulations by taking on further processing of the molluscs, to gain the health certification necessary for exports, but this can be…
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