Difficult and challenging discussions lie ahead with the UK in the wake of the Brexit deal, says the boss of an organisation representing hundreds of people working in the Manx fishing industry.

Dr David Beard said the last minute UK/EU agreement will be generally welcomed by those who fish for non quota species such as scallops, queenies, whelk and crab.

He said this means fishing folk will not be faced with potentially crippling tariffs as they trade in European markets.

But he warned of weeks ahead of potential paperwork problems especially at points of entry such as Dover.

unfair

He says there remains an ’unfair’ issue of Manx fisherman being prevented from fishing for ’quota’ species such as herring, cod and mackerel which are present in our territorial sea.

In a wide-ranging interview with Business News Dr Beard, chief executive of the Manx Fish Producers Organisation, (MFPO), based in Peel, said the amount of quota that’s being given back to the UK (from the EU) is going to be a very slow process for key quota species.

He said: ’The whole UK fishing industry was hoping for an increase in the amount of quota fish it could fish for but that is not going to happen in a hurry it seems.

’In fact, large sections of the UK fishing sector will be worse off.’

He explained that the UK used to be able to take part in international quota swaps with quota fish being exchanged with the EU countries.

’But they won’t be able to do that any more.

’It will certainly greatly affect the fishing plans of some of the bigger UK boats. And with the extra paper work they will be worse off.

’The transition period is five and a half years to reduce the amount of quota that EU boats can fish for in UK waters so there will be a gradual improvement but it depends on the species.’

Asked about the local Manx crews he said: ’Our guys will carry on fishing non quota species, such as King and Queen scallops for the mobile fleet and whelks, crab and lobster for the potting sector, because they don’t generally have access to the main quota species.

’We have herring and mackerel in our waters obviously but, except for a few under 10m boats, we can’t fish for them.

’They are what is called quota species along with cod, dover sole, prawns, whiting, monkfish, skates and rays, all of which are present in our waters.

’For instance nearly all the UK quota for fishing for herring in the Irish Sea is owned by two huge boats from Northern Ireland - they catch the vast majority of herring.’

Dr Beard added: ’We were hoping that after 30 to 40 years of very little access to quota we might be able to fish for fish species within our waters but we will have to see whether we get that.’

Asked if this was unfair he said: ’Yes of course, for decades’.

He said that the crown dependencies fish under what is called the ’English pool’ for quota and ’we are hoping that if this is increased because of Brexit (with the quota originally fished by EU boats in UK waters being passed on to the devolved administrations) then we will then finally get some.

’I hope that our government really pushes for it. I’ve been told they are so I just hope it continues.’

There was a recent consultation from DEFRA, UK on what should be done with this additional quota and the MFPO and DEFA in the island sent in replies requesting and expecting additional quota to be allocated on a regional basis.

emotive

He acknowledged that fisheries was an emotive issue and was always going to be the last issue to be sorted out in the UK/EU Brexit talks.

He said: ’We are interested in what the Isle of Man gets from Brexit.

’And until we get a bit of clarity on that - I don’t think much will change except for extra paperwork.

’We will keep fighting on the quota issue. Most people will not realise that, until recently, the vast majority of fish they buy in fishmongers, restaurants, etc, are not caught locally by Manx boats but are imported. That is why increasing our share of the quota is so important.

’You are looking at a Manx fishing industry with 300 to 400 people, directly or indirectly, so you are looking after a community. They still have their jobs at the moment but it is an extremely challenging time financially.

’Covid has had and continues to have a massive impact on the industry and the island’s government has been excellent in supporting us.

’That impact will hopefully come to an end in the next six months or so and we will continue to need the support of the government over that time for sure.

’But at least we are still here and the support of the Manx public has helped tremendously during this time by buying local Manx products.

’A lot of businesses have suffered a lot more than we have, the hospitality and entertainment industries have suffered far worse than we have.

’The government have been great in supporting us throughout Covid.

’We now need for us to push together with the crown dependencies to get our fair share of any additional quota that becomes available as a results of Brexit.

’Quota for fish that is representative of the fish stocks that are present in our waters.

’This has been going for years.

’But it is coming to a head now because there is an opportunity. Just as the UK expected more from the EU in terms of quota then the Isle of Man should expect more from England in terms of quota.

’It’s the same argument.

’The Northern Ireland and Scottish boats can come in our waters and catch quota species but in the main we can’t.

’It’s always been a problem.

’It’s an opportunity that we should not miss.’

He agreed that he felt like he had been banging his head against a brick wall on the issue for years.

high levels

Dr Beard said the Isle of Man is ’one of the few places that has high levels of non quota species such as Queen scallops and King scallops’.

He added: ’We fish and manage these species in a very sustainable way compared to the UK. We would like to be able to do this with quota species as well.’

Most of the scallops go to France, a lot of the queenies go to Italy and Spain as well as France.

This market has been developed over many years.

Some 80% to 95% of stock in any month goes to Europe.

’Our product has to continue going to Europe, a market which has been established for many years and that is why we were glad there was a deal because that was a bonus to us.

’We could have heen faced with tariffs of 10% or more which would have really hurt.

’The deal is really welcome that is the best news we could have got. Now we move on from that and will find out how difficult it will be regarding paperwork and then it is about fighting within the UK for more quota.

’The UK has made this agreement with Europe and the quota is going to gradually increase over the next five and a half years (the transition period) depending on the species and any extra quota that comes to the UK, and particularly the English pool, the Isle of Man, would want their share of that.

’I anticipate the battle will be with the UK to enable a fair share of what is in our waters.’

lDr Beard spoke to Business News as Chief Minister Howard Quayle said the UK-EU Brexit deal was good news for Manx fishing.

He said European fishing boats will be allowed into Manx waters under strict conditions.

The island would be able to regulate and licence fishermen from the EU,said Mr Quayle.

He added the island had to comply with the deal if it wanted to export goods to Europe.

Dr Beard said he has asked DEFA for clarity on the new licensing process for the EU boats that fish in our waters.