Scottish fishing industry slams 'grossly unfair' UK funding deal

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - The Scottish fishing industry is slamming the UK government’s “grossly unfair” funding allocation after it reportedly “gave away” to EU vessels 12 years of access to Scottish waters.

On Monday, the UK government announced a total of £360 million ($481 million) of investment through the new Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, with £56 million of the funding allocated to Scotland (£28 million), Wales (£18 million), and Northern Ireland (£10 million).

Though Fisheries Minister Angela Eagle said the post-Brexit fishing deal would “revitalize” the fishing sector and coastal communities, industry leaders accused the UK of sidelining Scotland.

Scotland’s Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon criticized the level of funding, and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation blasted the deal.

According to Scottish daily The National, Elspeth Macdonald, the group’s chief executive, said they had been given “no prior notification” of the arrangement, which they estimate will see the EU take fish worth £6 billion from UK waters.

“This is a grossly unfair division when Scotland comprises by far the largest part of the UK fishing industry, routinely accounting for around 60% of landings by both tonnage and value,” she said.

Macdonald added: “When the fund was announced in May as a consolation prize for the government giving away access to UK waters until 2038 for as yet nothing in return, Defra (the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) said it would invest in new technology and equipment to modernize the fleet and work with industry to target investment where it matters most.

“Five months on, (with) Defra having held only one meeting with industry,” things had abruptly changed, she said.

“Previously, Scotland’s share of fisheries funds was set at 47%. That has now been reduced to less than 8% at the stroke of a pen and with no discussion.”

She said the deal was seen by the body as a “consolation prize” but is now “a booby prize.”