Brexit fishing war: Clashes 'not impossible' as EU seeks to maintain control over fishing
BREXIT negotiations on fisheries could evolve into "nasty" clashes between British fishermen and EU vessels seeking to preserve their access to UK waters after the withdrawal is complete.
Brexit: Clash over fishing ‘not impossible’ warns expert
Brexit negoatiations have repeatedly stalled over the European Union's insistence boats from member states be allowed to access Britis waters once the the transition period has concluded. The UK Government has maintained British coastal communities will regain full control of the fishing stocks after years of anger over the controversial Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). But fisheries biologist Bryce Stewart forecast the EU will continue to seek permission to access waters and warned the dispute could evolve into clashes.
Asked whether the discussion of fisheries could turn "nasty", Dr Stewart told CGTN: "It's not impossible. We've seen some nasty scenes in the past.
"Some people may remember the scallop wars a few years ago where British and French boats were clashing about different boats fishing under different rules in the English Channel.
"There were a few boats ramming into each other, there were some interesting insults exchanged and some rocks, and things like this.
"We certainly don't want to see this, it's the last thing that should be happening at sea."
JUST IN: UK faces paying for EU's huge debt mountain with new £160BILLION bill
The so-called Scallop Wars of 2018 were the result of a violent confrontation between UK and French boats in the Channel as Normandy fishermen tried to stop five UK boats from fishing in the Bay of the Seine.
Dr Stewart continued: "The European position, obviously from the individual counties but also from the Commission and the chief negotiator Michel Barnier, has been that they do not want to change things at all, ideally.
"At the moment, the European nations have a pretty good deal. They are able to come into UK waters up to 12 miles and catch quite a lot of the fish around our shores, probably around 50 to 60 percent are actually caught by European vessels.
"Any change is really going to be a lot for the EU, from where they stand now."
READ MORE: Richard Tice savages 'petrified' EU's Brexit plot and warns UK against 'foolish' error
Brexit: UK to regain ‘former greatness’ after exit claims fisherman
Dr Stewart remarked fishing has a small influence on the overall economy of the UK but much like in other Euroepan countries, it remains a symbolic sector.
The British fishing industry accounts for around 0.1 percent of the economy but has emerged as a key point of contention during negotiations with Brussels.
The academic added: "Fishing, economically and even in terms of jobs, is a very small industry.
"But it really punches above its weight. It's something a lot of countries are really proud of, their fishing heritage.
DON'T MISS
Brexit POLL: Should Boris walk away from trade talks with EU? VOTE [OPINION]
Remainers ‘spectacularly wrong’ as EU fails to sign vaccine deal [REVEAL]
Brexit Project Fear unmasked: Did ANY of these five Remainer claims come true? [EXPLAINER]
"Most European nations and the UK are coastal nations with a long maritime history.
"The UK, I mean, fish and chips is our national dish. There tends to be a bigger importance on fishing than you may otherwise expect."
Dr Stewart's argument echoed the assessment Tim Bale from The UK in a Changing Europe think tank made earlier this month.
Prof Bale said: "Clearly there are far more important sectors that matter economically in these negotiations than fishing.
"I think the problem is it’s emotive, it’s symbolic. It’s all about the slogan that won the referendum, take back control, it’s one aspect of that.
"Certainly, in some communities it plays very well and for the Government that is important."