Local MP John Lamont has said Brexit could trigger a revival of the Berwickshire fishing fleet following a meeting in Westminster with the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF).
In 2000, there were an estimated 184 fishermen in Berwickshire and the industry supported many more jobs in fish processing. Yet employment in the industry has now fallen so dramatically, that it is being recorded as being zero in official statistics.
A recent YouGov poll commissioned by the SFF found that 79% of respondents believe the UK should leave the Common Fisheries Policy.
John met with Bertie Armstrong, Chief Executive Officer at the SFF today, alongside other Scottish Conservative MPs to discuss the opportunity Brexit presented for the sector.
John Lamont MP said: “Cutting from all the doom and gloom we hear about Brexit, Scotland’s fishermen are very clear that leaving the EU represents a huge opportunity.
“The EU’s Common Fisheries Policy has been deeply unpopular in Scotland and there is real positivity about the UK regaining control of our own fish stocks.
“The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation think Brexit is a great opportunity for Scottish fishing and I agree that there is potential that we could see a revival of fishing in the Borders.
“Hundreds of jobs have been lost in the past decade in Berwickshire due to a decline of the fishing industry and the impact of the CFP. We now have a real opportunity to reverse this trend and to bring fishing and fish processing back to the Berwickshire coast.
“Following my meeting with the SFF, I am very clear that it is in the interests of the Borders to leave the Commons Fisheries Policy sooner rather than later.”