UK Fishers: EU Agreement

Debate between Baroness Hayman of Ullock and Lord Kerr of Kinlochard

Monday 31st March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Kerr of Kinlochard (CB)]

Have the Government consulted inshore fishermen, particularly Scottish inshore fishermen, whose interest is rapid access to continental markets for their high-value product, and who were so badly frosted by the previous Administration?

[Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)]

The difficulty with negotiating for fisheries in the UK is that it is such a diverse industry. For example, fishers in Scotland will have very different needs from fishers in Cornwall—from those who may be catching crabs and lobsters to those who are after cod and pollock. It is a very complex area. The outcomes report on sustainability of fishing stocks, for example, is an extremely complex read—if anybody fancies it, I can provide them with a copy. But I completely take the noble Lord’s point, which is why we are very keen to work with industry to properly understand what it would like to see in the future.