A year since Brexit, fishermen in Cornwall say they were sold a dream – iNews

Skipper James Chunky Chown makes the tricky task of boarding his trawler, the Ajax, at Newlyn Harbour in Cornwall, look easy.

The fisherman moves from the quay, descends 10 metres down an iron ladder over a widening gap of turquoise sea, and onto the boat in a single fluid motion.

When it comes to fishing, he tells i, everything is difficult now, due to the new post-Brexit rules the paperwork, the legislation, the endless bureaucracy. It takes time and it costs money.

It wasnt supposed to be this way. Polls suggested that 92 per cent of the UK fishing industry voted to leave the EU, amid promises that they would benefit from taking back control of British waters.

The new post Brexit fishing rules that came into force at the start of last year were described in July by the National Federation of Fishermens Organisations as a sell out. Today, the mood is sangfroid.

A year on from the new rules at Newlyn Englands busiest fishing port Chown says he is somewhat resigned to them. Still, he is clear Brexit has brought new pressures.

The first time we tried to land pollock in Roscoff, Brittany, we were told to go over to Brest [a port further South], apparently for no reason whatsoever, he says. The French seem to enjoy these new regulations.

We lost about 12,000 worth of fish that day, Chown adds. These days we dont land in France at all.

Fishing boats still operate traditionally. Crews go out to sea, catch fish, and land it where the market price is best. Different fish are worth more or less on any given day, at any given port.

For Chown, a fisherman who likes to catch a variety of fish and seasonally, being restricted to one market can be inefficient and constraining.

We were the first boat to land in France after Brexit, he says. Complications were immediately there. The French can be very militant. If they dont get their way, theyve been known to unload fish from lorries and pour diesel on them set them on fire.

Changing between pollock and hake is more sustainable but we cant do that now. We get a very good price for hake here, so were doing okay financially, but I think things need to change long-term. I want to catch pollock too. British people buying more fish would be good being less reliant on European trade.

Wed also like to see different ports open up. Why do we have to go through France? Id like to land straight into Santander (Spain). That would make life far easier.

Still today, 60-70 per cent of fish caught and landed in Britain heads to France, Spain, Italy, and beyond. There remains an urgency to trade with Europe, even if theres new-found ambivalence.

Fishing has never been plain sailing. Maybe the Brexit vote among those in the industry should be no surprise. For years, communities by the sea have felt disconnected and forgotten. But Government pledges have failed to transpire.

Paul Trebilcock, manager at the 300-year-old Cornish fishing company, Ocean Fish, says: Senior people from the Government came down here and made us promises. We had Michael Gove standing here on the harbour telling us we would have greater control of our seas, and a greater share of fish. Nothing has changed. Were pretty much in the same position as we were before. Maybe were a little worse off.

He says the Scottish industry has benefited from Brexit. The quota share for multi-million-pound trawlers catching fish like mackerel in the North Sea and north Atlantic has increased. But West Country boats were sold a dream.

Ahead of the EU Referendum, ministers championing the patriotic ideal of the UK becoming an independent coastal state like big fishing nations like Norway and Iceland one of the main selling points was reclaiming our seas. Today only waters up to six miles from land are reserved for UK fishing boats. Fishermen had been told this would be increased to 12 miles post-Brexit.

We have been massively short-changed and it does seem like boats down here have been hung out to dry, says Trebilcock. The increase in quota share for various species has been marginal. Theres also the issue of the 6-12 mile limit, which we were told would be ours, but that hasnt happened.

He says West Country fishermen want the Government to be braver. Trebilcock backs a tougher stance from the UK on pushing for a bigger share, even if it means the French retaliating and making trade even more difficult.

We want the Government to stand up for us, he says. Yes, the EU could respond (by raising taxes, for example) and we need avenues to trade. But they need us, too. British waters are full of beautiful fish. We should be the ones to catch them and to sell them.

Anthony Hendy, 30 years a fisherman, only goes out a day at a time from Newlyn making his situation different to larger boats like the Ajax, which can leave port for a week.

The first half of the year was really hard, he tells i. In the last six months, Ive made more money, because fish has been getting a good price at market I suppose demand shot up. But I do see the landscape changing here. The fleet has diminished, and its much harder to get a boat and go out to fish.

The six mile limit is a big problem for us because a lot of our fleet here is smaller boats which dont go out in terrible weather not usually anyway.

The Belgians and French go out in any conditions because they have huge trawlers subsidised by the Government and it makes no difference to them. Its hard being sat here seeing them coming up within six miles from the coast getting all the fish. That should be ours. Its not sustainable trawling the seas every day anyway.

When trade negotiations reopen in 2026, everyone is hoping for a fairer deal.

There was a lot of anger down here when promises werent kept, says Chris Ranford, the new CEO of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation. Its no secret that fishermen supported Brexit for the most part because they were told their livelihoods would improve. Nothing has changed and wont for five years. But theres hope.

Theres a feeling of getting on with it now There are positives. We can find solutions and work towards 2026. I think everyone will push for the 12 mile limit to be imposed and quota share of certain species will be discussed. Hopefully the bigger boats get an easier ride too and can land in Europe and get a fair price for their bigger hauls.

The mood might have been morose 12 months ago. It isnt now. Discontent is here, but the fishermen of Newlyn carry on, dropping their nets in the hope of catching Cornish fish.

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A year since Brexit, fishermen in Cornwall say they were sold a dream - iNews