Lords EU Committee launches new inquiry on EU access to UK fisheries

At 10.30am the Committee will hear from:

• Professor Richard Barnes, Associate Dean for Research, Hull University
• Dr Christopher Huggins, Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Suffolk
• Andrew Oliver, Partner, Andrew Jackson.

Likely topics of discussion include:

• What should the Government be aiming for in its negotiations on post-Brexit access to UK fisheries?
• What legal constraints are there on the UK's ability to restrict EU fishing access to the UK's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the UK's coastal waters from next year?
• Are there other examples of the EU tying fishing access to overall trade in negotiations, as it is seeking to do with the UK?
• Is it feasible for the Government to negotiate quota on the basis of zonal attachment, rather than relative stability? 
• How will the UK's approach need to change to ensure that any new agreement on EU access to UK fisheries is enforced?

At 11.45am the Committee will hear from:

• Elspeth Macdonald, Chief Executive Officer, Scottish Fishermen's Federation
• Barrie Deas, Chief Executive Officer, National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations
• Jeremy Percy, Chief Executive Officer, New Under Ten Fishermen's Association
• Andrew Kuyk CBE, Chief Executive Officer, UK Seafood Industry Alliance.

Likely topics of discussion include:

• Should the UK stop or reduce access by EU vessels to UK waters post-Brexit?
• How strong a lever is the UK's ability to grant or deny access to its waters?
• Is there a risk of clashes in the water if the UK restricts EU vessels' access?
• What would be the impact on the fishing industry if trading fish products with the EU becomes more difficult or more expensive post-Brexit?
• Do views on post-Brexit access to UK fisheries vary between the different regions and nations of the UK?

These evidence sessions, which are open to the public, will take place at 10.30am on Wednesday 12 February 2020 in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords.