EU could SNUB UK fishermen after Brexit as Denmark claims HISTORICAL RIGHT to UK waters
EUROPEAN UNION meddling could continue after Brexit as Denmark claims their fishermen have a historic right to fish in British waters.
Furious fisherman claims EU has devastated their industry
Theresa May’s Government could be set for a legal battle after the EU member revealed it could take the case all the way to the international court of justice in the Hague.
Denmark is hoping to sway Brussels into seeking a divorce deal which will allow its fleet of fishermen to continue to exploit the stock of cod, herring and mackerel in British waters.
Foreign affairs minister, Anders Samuelsen, told the Guardian: “Danish fishermen have historically been fishing across the North Sea.
“The common fisheries policy in the EU has regulated this, based on historical rights and preserving our common stocks that don’t follow economic zones.
“Clearly, this is very important for many fishing communities especially along the Jutland coast, and we all put our full support behind the EU’s negotiators to find the best way forward.”
While Niels Wichmann, the chief executive of the Danish fisherman’s association, argued the UK Government's suggestion it could reclaim control over the sea territories was nonsense.
Mr Wichmann, who is also a part of the Danish government’s Brexit taskforce, said: “We have a common sea basin where we can fish. We have always had that.
“The British claim of getting back your waters is nonsense, because you never had them. Maybe for oil or gas but not for fish.”
These fishermen in Cornwall want Brexit to happen now
The British claim of getting back your waters is nonsense, because you never had them
A recent report found political meddling in the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy has caused “almost continued” decline in the British fishing industry.
The EU policy, known as CFP, allows member states to fish in waters around Britain under the sharing programme - on the basis any fish which has passed through EU waters in its migration is fair game.
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has released a report which claims rapid change is needed - change which Brexit may deliver.
The report, edited by Richard Wellings, said: “The CFP has been particularly prone to political influence, with disastrous results.
“Landings into UK ports of the more valuable demersal fish such as cod have plummeted by around 80 per cent since 1970. The UK shares fishing grounds with other member states and has been allocated a relatively small share of EU quotas.”
It comes after Mrs May in March signalled she is poised to give notice that the UK will pull out of the Convention in two years' time - coinciding with Britain's exit from the bloc.
That would let the Prime Minister ban EU fishermen from our waters if Brexit talks with Brussels collapse because there would then be no legal basis for EU fleets to continue fishing British waters.
British fishermen and campaigners have urged the Conservative Party leader to stand firm over the UK’s rights to its own fishing waters.
Anders Vistisen: Brexit is symptom NOT illness of EU crisis
Fishing for Leave chief Alan Hastings said: "As we have highlighted, the Government has to denounce this London Convention if it truly means to take back control of our fisheries, otherwise the EU will have backdoor access to our waters because the Convention predates our EU membership.
"This Government has the opportunity to be the first in 40 years to patriotically look after this nation's strategic interests.
"Our fishing industry could be rejuvenated to be worth £6.3billion a year and whether we take back control will be the acid test of Brexit.
"It is the first test of whether the Government is all mouth and no trousers or really does mean 'Brexit means Brexit'."
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