Fishing Deal Puts Any Benefits At Risk
External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson has welcomed the closer co-operation between the UK and the EU following a series of new agreements, but said not involving the Scottish Government in any negotiations, despite requests made, was “an affront to devolution”.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Mr Robertson said the removal of obstacles to food and agricultural exports, greater support for energy trading and the UK re-joining the Erasmus exchange scheme for students, were all positive aspects of the UK-EU agreement.
But Mr Robertson criticised the lack of consultation with the Scottish Government on key aspects of the deal, particularly on fishing. And Seamus Logan, SNP MP for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, has blasted the Labour UK Government for treating Scottish fishing communities as “expendable” in EU negotiations.
In a letter to the Minister for European Union Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Mr Logan called for the Labour UK Government to come to Peterhead and meet with Scottish fishermen while he asked that the impact assessment on Scottish fishing communities is published and detail on how much money will come to Scotland to protect the industry in the aftermath.
The UK has used the Scottish fishing industry as a bargaining chip for its own ends – again.
— The SNP (@theSNP) May 19, 2025
They didn’t even bother to consult the Scottish Government this time.
Only independence would allow us to negotiate our own settlement, and protect Scotland’s fishing industry. pic.twitter.com/OH5UD5thu5
The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation Chief Executive, Elspeth MacDonald, said the 12 year agreement would end any leverage the UK had on future negotiations in what she described as a “disastrous outcome for the Scottish fishing fleet”.
Scotland’s fishing industry contributes nearly 70% of all UK tonnage at a value of £683m with Aberdeenshire having the highest fishing GVA at £176M followed by the Shetland Islands at £83M. Meanwhile the seafood industry continues to highlight leaving the EU as contributing to 20-25% of vacancies being unfilled throughout the sector.
The Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray MP, has even admitted the deal was bad for fishermen, after initially defending it as being “exactly the same” as Boris Johnson’s widely condemned 2019 settlement. The Scottish Labour Party manifesto had previously made clear that it recognised “how damaging the thin Brexit deal done by the Conservatives has been for Scottish businesses and communities“.
The SNP previously warned the UK Government has treated Scottish industries as an afterthought with Labour Government support for two carbon capture sites in England, while refusing to fund the Acorn project in Scotland and with jobs saved at Scunthorpe while Grangemouth was allowed to shut down.
Part 1
— Angus Robertson (@AngusRobertson) May 20, 2025
Improving relations with the European Union is a good thing – but doing so by undermining the fisheries sector is not. pic.twitter.com/rVqiAQQEz6
The Scottish Government welcomes the agreement as it represents long-overdue momentum in rebuilding our relationship with the European Union. But no agreement can deliver the economic, social and security benefits we lost with Brexit in 2020.
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SECRETARY ANGUS ROBERTSON
We argued for an ambitious package in the interests of people and businesses across Scotland, and there are some positive indicators here, including the agriculture, food and drink agreement which will reduce market barriers; and enhanced cooperation on energy and climate, and a clear intention to rejoin the Erasmus exchange programme.
The fact that this agreement – not least on fisheries – was reached without the explicit engagement of the devolved governments on the negotiation detail is not just an affront to devolution, it has put at risk, and will continue to put at risk, the benefits of any commitments for the people of Scotland.
We still believe Scotland’s best future lies as an independent country within the European Union but we will engage constructively and positively in the next phase of negotiations. We also hope to see the UK Government work collaboratively with devolved governments in developing its priorities – as the EU does with its Member States.
