Keir Starmer warned 'act now' to stop EU fishermen plundering cod in UK waters

Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to act and stop fishers from the European Union plundering fish stocks in UK territorial waters. The EU has extensive access to Britain's waters in a reciprocal arrangement which in practice is more advantageous to European countries.

EU members did "very well" under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) deal signed by Boris Johnson's government and the bloc, with French fishers taking over 80 percent of cod stocks on the UK side of the English Channel and Belgian counterparts catching some 70 percent of Dover sole in Welsh waters, according to Mike Cohen, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO).

That deal is up for review in 2026, with Sir Keir having already vowed to "reset" relations between the UK and EU. Recent reports suggest Brussels will demand its favourable access to UK waters continues in exchange for an improved relationship.

British officials reportedly believe access to UK fishing waters will be a key compromise in response to Sir Keir's push for closer ties on trade, security, migration and foreign policy. Brussels bureaucrats, meanwhile, are said to preparing a list of "offensive interests" the EU will deploy in future talks, with fisheries high on the agenda.

Mr Cohen told Express.co.uk: "We're seeing the first rattling of sabres with European politicians starting to set out what their asks will be and putting down their markers. The sense I'm getting is they will want to keep things as they are and maintain the existing agreement. I'm not surprised because they did very, very well out of that agreement. We gave away everything."

He explained British fishers are in a worse position under the current deal, with quota arrangements in practice benefiting EU countries more even in UK waters. Mr Cohen added: "What other coastal state has other states' (fishing) vessels operating in its waters?"

The NFFO's chief executive said EU vessels being able to fish within six miles of the UK coast was particularly rankling and called for a re-examination of that side of the deal, arguing if Britain had access from zero to 12 miles offshore then its inshore fleet would receive a major boost.

He described a David and Goliath-type situation, where smaller UK fishing vessels are outcompeted by huge EU ships that can operate in all weathers and catch more.

Without a renegotiated deal, Mr Cohen said an opportunity to develop Britain's fishing fleet would be lost, adding: "We have an opportunity to strengthen our inshore fleet to create jobs and growth.

"We would lose that opportunity if we don't do a better deal. We need to take better control of the resources we have in the sea. By doing so we can increase our food security."

He warned without a better, multiple-year deal, the UK and EU both risk having to negotiate every year, creating business uncertainty on both sides of the English Channel while fishers in Britain are already working in a "challenging" environment.

Under the TCA, 25 percent of the overall existing EU quota in UK waters will be transferred to Britain over a five-and-a-half-year transition period to June 30, 2026, with percentage changes agreed for the total allowable catch for each stock in each fishing zone.

Mutual access is granted through a licencing system for individual fishing vessels. After 2026, negotiations on access and quota are due to take place on an annual basis, unless a multi-year deal can be struck.

Under the latest deal between the UK, EU and Norway which was announced by Rishi Sunak's government in December, Britain's fishers can access 420,000 tonnes of stocks worth up to £700million.

The previous government said that the deal would bring total fishing opportunities for the UK fleet in 2024 to 750,000 tonnes, some 80,000 tonnes more than in 2023 and worth up to £970m based on historic landing prices.

One consequence of Brexit sees Britain now managing its fisheries based on scientific advice and free of Brussels' control, but industry experts want the Government to strike an improved deal which guarantees a fairer distribution of fishing quotas in UK waters.

Mr Cohen said: "We have something really valuable here and we need to do a deal that reflects that this time. We need a robust approach to the negotiations that still recognises that future collaboration with the EU is important, but that realises the resources we have in our waters could really benefit the UK.

"The Government is focused on growth. I think if we do this deal right, then my sector can really contribute to that in a way it's not able to at the moment... If we keep things the same, we will lose that opportunity. That just does not seem sensible to me. It would be a terrible waste."

A Defra spokesperson said: "Food security is national security. That is why the new Government will always back our great British fishing industry. We will seek to tear down unnecessary trade barriers that block our fishing exports and boost fishing opportunities for British vessels in our waters."