Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate: Protecting Scotland’s Fishing Industry

Tim Eagle S6M-17360 That the Parliament expresses its deep concern at reports that the UK Labour administration may agree a deal with the EU that enhances access for EU fishing vessels to UK waters; understands that the reported deal could result in a multi-year access guarantee as opposed to annual negotiations between the UK and the EU; believes that Scotland’s domestic fishing industry is a significant contributor to the economy and that every effort should be made to support it during trade negotiations; notes that the existing fisheries deal between the EU and the UK is not perfect, but that it took the sector out of the Common Fisheries Policy; acknowledges that the UK Labour administration’s potential new deal would turn a good opportunity to build on this foundation into a missed opportunity that represents a backwards step for the sector as bad as the Common Fisheries Policy; calls on the Scottish Government to drop its support for the Common Fisheries Policy and do all that it can to ensure that the UK Labour administration does not sell out the Scottish fishing industry as part of its talks with the EU, and believes that there should be an annual debate on fisheries to highlight its importance to Scotland’s economy. Mairi Gougeon S6M-17360.3 As an amendment to motion S6M-17360 in the name of Tim Eagle (Protecting Scotland’s Fishing Industry), leave out from first "with the EU" to second "with the EU" and insert "on fishing with the EU that enhances access for EU fishing vessels to UK waters without consulting the Scottish Government, despite the fishing industry being of comparatively greater importance to the Scottish economy than to the UK economy as a whole; understands that the reported deal could result in a multi-year access guarantee as opposed to annual negotiations between the UK and the EU; notes the need for an agreement that delivers improvements for Scotland's fishing communities, including access to the single market for fish and seafood and long-term stability for fishing businesses; further notes the poor record of successive UK Conservative and Labour administrations in delivering for Scotland's coastal communities; calls on the UK Government to engage with fishing stakeholders and the Scottish Government to ensure that Trade and Cooperation Agreement renegotiations reflect the needs and priorities of the Scottish fishing industry; further calls on the UK Government to provide multi-annual funding that keeps pace with the equivalent EU funding that Scotland would have received as a member state, and that all marine funding be devolved; recognises the significant economic harm created by Brexit in reducing trade and access to labour for fishing businesses". Rhoda Grant S6M-17360.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-17360 in the name of Tim Eagle (Protecting Scotland’s Fishing Industry), leave out from "expresses" to end and insert "recognises that the upcoming UK-EU Summit will cover a range of issues as all sides look to build a stable and positive relationship that aligns with the national interest; notes that no agreements have been reached and therefore speculation is not helpful; further notes that the UK Government has stated that there is no link between fish and defence and that it would be wrong to suggest otherwise; acknowledges that the UK Labour administration has always been clear that it will protect the interests of UK fisheries; believes that the UK has long been a leader in the defence and security of the European continent and should stand ready to negotiate a security and defence partnership agreement with the EU; further believes that Scotland’s domestic fishing industry is a significant contributor to the economy, particularly in many of the island and rural communities, and must, therefore, be protected, and calls on the Scottish Government to reform quota allocation via local authorities to ensure a sustainable fisheries future for communities and biodiversity."