One of the main sticking points for many voting to leave was the ability of British fisheries to take control of their waters.
Leaving the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the European Union’s current landscape for monitoring and sustaining fishing practice, was a huge reason behind 92% of the industry voting to leave.
The policy sets quotas for the member states on the type and quantity of of fish different nation’s vessels can reel in.
The market is not thriving as much as it had been, many blaming the crash of the pound. Credit: Tom Sables for City News.
However, many in London believe the CFP allows other nations in the bloc to overfish in British waters. Alongside this, many welcome the possibility of managing our own quotas if we jumped out of the policy.
Billingsgate Market is Britain’s largest inland fish market, 30,000 square feet holding a number of strong views on the current deal in Europe – many wanting Britain to cast it’s own nets.
Steve believes his costs could be cut by jumping out of the Common Fisheries Policy. Credit: Tom Sables for City News.
Steve’s crabs arrive in East London from France, where they’re distributed to a number of local restaurants at wholesale:
“I’ve been in the industry for 51 years and it’s declined. It’s all wrong – that we’ve gone downhill while France hasn’t, Italy hasn’t and Greece hasn’t.”
‘It’s all wrong – that we’ve gone downhill and France hasn’t’
“They can fish for small fish, but if we get anything under a certain six we have to throw it back in!”
Nick struggled to describe the level of change in the seafood business over his 40 years at Billingsgate:
“These costs we pay wouldn’t be there if we just left the EU or at least their fishing policy. It’s much more expensive flying produce in from France than if we could just get them from Cornwall on a lorry.”
‘It’s catching fish, they’re out there. Do your job’
But Kamil, a trader from the Czech Republic, doesn’t see British fishermen at a disadvantage from the CFP:
“My opinion is you just need to work hard. Work hard and there are results, it’s catching fish, they’re out there. Do your job.”
With suggestions that Britain could remain in the policy until 2020 regardless of Brexit, many fisheries still have a murky view of their future.
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HeadlineBillingsgate Market: London market’s take on Europe’s Common Fisheries Policy
Short HeadlineBillingsgate Market on EU's fishing policy
StandfirstThe industry-wide vote for Brexit revealed a previously thriving industry struggling to stay afloat.
One of the main sticking points for many voting to leave was the ability of British fisheries to take control of their waters.
Leaving the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the European Union’s current landscape for monitoring and sustaining fishing practice, was a huge reason behind 92% of the industry voting to leave.
The policy sets quotas for the member states on the type and quantity of of fish different nation’s vessels can reel in.
The market is not thriving as much as it had been, many blaming the crash of the pound. Credit: Tom Sables for City News.
However, many in London believe the CFP allows other nations in the bloc to overfish in British waters. Alongside this, many welcome the possibility of managing our own quotas if we jumped out of the policy.
Billingsgate Market is Britain’s largest inland fish market, 30,000 square feet holding a number of strong views on the current deal in Europe – many wanting Britain to cast it’s own nets.
Steve believes his costs could be cut by jumping out of the Common Fisheries Policy. Credit: Tom Sables for City News.
Steve’s crabs arrive in East London from France, where they’re distributed to a number of local restaurants at wholesale:
“I’ve been in the industry for 51 years and it’s declined. It’s all wrong – that we’ve gone downhill while France hasn’t, Italy hasn’t and Greece hasn’t.”
‘It’s all wrong – that we’ve gone downhill and France hasn’t’
“They can fish for small fish, but if we get anything under a certain six we have to throw it back in!”
Nick struggled to describe the level of change in the seafood business over his 40 years at Billingsgate:
“These costs we pay wouldn’t be there if we just left the EU or at least their fishing policy. It’s much more expensive flying produce in from France than if we could just get them from Cornwall on a lorry.”
‘It’s catching fish, they’re out there. Do your job’
But Kamil, a trader from the Czech Republic, doesn’t see British fishermen at a disadvantage from the CFP:
“My opinion is you just need to work hard. Work hard and there are results, it’s catching fish, they’re out there. Do your job.”
With suggestions that Britain could remain in the policy until 2020 regardless of Brexit, many fisheries still have a murky view of their future.
