French fishing must not be “sacrificed as an adjustment variable” in post-Brexit trade negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom, insisted Jean Castex on Thursday, announcing a “specific support plan” for the sector, during a visit to Boulogne-sur-Mer.
“We obviously hope to obtain an agreement under the best possible conditions, but not under any conditions. And certainly not under the conditions where fishing would be sacrificed as an adjustment variable”, declared the Prime Minister in front of representatives of the sector (fishermen, industrialists, transporters, etc.).
The negotiations are slipping within a month of the deadline set by the stakeholders. As of January 1, 2021, whether or not an agreement is reached, European standards will cease to apply in the United Kingdom.
However, the process seemed to be accelerating at the end of the week, with European negotiator Michel Barnier telling member states that the next few hours of discussions would be crucial. However, fishing, and therefore access to British waters full of fish, is one of the main bones of contention.
“We need access to the water, it’s imperative, it’s the priority,” repeated Olivier Leprêtre, president of the regional fisheries committee.
“If we fall back on French waters, there is a risk of overexploitation, in a few months we will destroy the resource,” he warned when Mr. Castex had just visited the Klondyke, a deep-sea fishing vessel which operates in the north of Scotland.
“It is a negotiation and a negotiation must lead to compromises. And we must accompany you in these compromises”, replied Mr. Castex later by promising “national solidarity” to “the territories concerned”.
“A new era will begin. I hope there will be a specific support plan,” said Mr. Castex, promising that “the State will take (it) its responsibilities”.
Mr. Castex also asked the prefects “to ensure, given the circumstances, that specific actions of the recovery plan are intended” for players in the fishing industry, for their “projects” or their “conversion”.
In front of Mr. Castex, these actors presented their grievances: need of “visibility” for one, to improve the competitiveness of the port by lowering the price of land to avoid relocations, or to be able to operate continuously the this town’s veterinary inspection service (Sivep) for handling seafood arriving from Great Britain.
On this last point, Mr. Castex gave them satisfaction by announcing staff reinforcements so that Sivep runs “24 hours a day (…) from January 1”.
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