How are the SNP supporting Scotland’s fishing industry?

By slashing Scotland’s share of funding, Labour is handing a massive windfall to England’s much smaller fishing sector, while leaving Scotland high and dry.

The Scottish fishing sector accounts for over 60% of the UK’s fishing capacity and seafood exports. Yet the UK Labour Government has allocated funding of just 7.78% for Scotland’s fishing industry meaning that Scotland is set to lose out by over £100 million.

More than 75% of all UK quota species is landed by Scottish vessels. Having previously received 46% from EU funding allocated to the UK for fishing, Labour’s decision on replacement funding means Scotland is set to lose out by over a hundred million pounds.

The funding being spread over 12 years the deal means Scotland will have a meagre £2.3 million per annum of additional funding to invest in our marine industries and coastal communities.

This is nowhere near enough to support the next generation of fishermen and breathe new life into our coastal communities.

This announcement is yet another negative consequence of Brexit which the people of Scotland did not vote for, but for which our businesses and communities are paying the price.

The SNP will continue to support industry stakeholder’s calls for fairness. But if the UK Government continues with this deeply damaging approach, they will be making clear that they simply do not understand or even care about Scotland’s fishing industry – and we should take these decisions ourselves with the fresh start of independence.