New inquiry launched on Northern Ireland Fisheries
9 January 2018
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee announces a new inquiry to examine the impact of the UK's decision to leave the EU on the fisheries industry in Northern Ireland.
The inquiry is the first in a series of thematic inquiries that will form a wide-ranging investigation into the impact of Brexit on the economy and society of Northern Ireland.
Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)
At present, the industry in Northern Ireland is largely governed by the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) that oversees policy areas including fisheries management, funding for fishing communities, market organisation and export tariffs. As well as leaving the CFP, the UK Government has announced its withdrawal from the London Fisheries Convention, that established fishing rights in coastal waters of Western Europe.
Opportunities and challenges
The inquiry will look at the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the fisheries sector. It will examine what aspects of EU fisheries policy benefitted the region, and could be replicated when the UK Government develops an independent fisheries policy. Equally, it will investigate areas where the UK Government has the potential to diverge and create new strategies to improve the sector.
Implications for the fishing industry
Launching the inquiry, Committee Chair Andrew Murrison MP commented:
"Brexit has big implications for the fishing industry in the British Isles and for the communities that depend on it, towns like Portavogie, Kilkeel and Ardglass.
The UK has decided to extract itself from a framework of fishing quotas, rights to territorial waters and sustainability that has governed the sector since the 1970s. There are real opportunities for growth but we must fully understand the complexities in order to secure the right arrangements for Northern Ireland principally but also to do the right thing by the Republic of Ireland as an enduring member of the EU.
We want to hear from those who work at sea, in processing or any of the other support industries, about their hopes and fears for the future. We will be setting up an internet forum where you can share your experiences, so please take a moment to give us your views."
Terms of Reference
The Committee invites written evidence on the following issues:
- What opportunities and challenges will Northern Ireland face from leaving the Common Fisheries Policy?
- How would the imposition of export tariffs affect the fisheries industry in Northern Ireland?
- To what extent is EU market access dependent on the UK retaining EU fisheries regulation?
- How should the UK Government manage its fishery resources after Brexit?
- How should scientific data on the sustainability of fish stocks be gathered in future?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages European Maritime and Fisheries Fund? How could funding of fishing communities be improved?
- To what extent do international agreements limit the UK's freedom to change fisheries policy?
- How will Brexit affect the management of Carlingford, Strangford and Foyle Loughs?
- What are the consequences of leaving the London Fisheries Convention for Northern Ireland?
- What effect will Brexit have on the future of the Voisinage Agreement? To what extent can the UK develop bi-lateral fishing arrangements with Ireland?
- How will regulatory divergence from the Common Fisheries Policy affect management of common fishing stocks?
- How should the interests of the fishing industry in Northern Ireland be represented in the negotiations?
If you do submit written evidence, we'll keep you up to date with the progress of the inquiry.
Listening exercise
The Committee will soon launch a listening exercise to find out about the areas that the people of Northern Ireland think will be most affected by Brexit, and inform the direction of their future work.
- Send a written submission to the inquiry on Fisheries
Further information
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