‘Were you sleep walking?’ Brexiteer hits out at Frost and Gove over fishing deal farce
Brexit 'solely responsible' for fishing issues says Karleskind
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The former Brexit Party MEP lashed out at the former chief negotiator and Cabinet Office Minister after sharing an earlier Express.co.uk story on Twitter. This website revealed almost 100 licences have been granted to enable EU vessels to fish within 12 miles of the UK coastline.
It comes after it emerged the EU plans to extend a ban on shellfish exports caught in UK waters – with only pre-purified fish being accepted at ports in Europe.
In a post on Twitter, Ms Mummery wrote: “Why has the UK Government granted licences to these vessels while they are unable as an independent coastal state to monitor what EU vessels are catching. Shocking!
“And the UK is reliant on the EU Commission telling the UK accurate data.
“We have given the EU full access to our waters, our Government failed to get a deal for fish exports.
“@DavidGHFrost @michaelgove were you sleep walking, what have you done?”
Figures seen by Express.co.uk reveal the Single Issuing Authority has issued more than 80 licences to EU vessels from January 29.
French vessels account for 59 of the licences and a further 17 were granted to Belgian fishermen.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed “reciprocal access” has been issued for the zone as the fishing transition period takes place.
A spokesman said: “Now that we have left the Common Fisheries Policy, all vessels, regardless of nationality, may only fish in UK waters if they have a valid licence and abide by UK rules.
“During the adjustment period there is reciprocal access to certain parts of the UK’s and EU’s 6-12 mile fishing zones for UK and EU vessels that can prove previous access.”
Under the terms of the Trade and Corporation Agreement, EU fishing quotas will be reduced by 25 percent over the next five years.
The latest fishing row comes after it emerged EU chiefs had move the goal-posts when it comes to exporting bivalve molluscs, such as mussels, scallops and oyster to the continent.
Britain is now being treated as a third country by the EU and its standards require shellfish to be pre-purified and have health certificates before being exported.
The costly measures were due to be temporary, but last month EU chiefs told UK firms the requirements would be extended beyond April.
Environment Secretary Mr Eustice urged the European Commission to abide by existing regulations and confirmed the Government was only made aware of the changes last week.
Lord Frost said the past six weeks of post-Brexit relations had been “more than bumpy” and require a “different spirit” from the EU to ease the problems.
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The former Brexit chief negotiator outlined issues over the border in Ireland and the export of shellfish, but insisted they would be overcome.
Speaking to the Lords European Union Committee, he said: “None of those things are in themselves dramatic, although some have been very, very serious. We have behind that obviously the Northern Ireland issues.
“I think it’s been more than bumpy to be honest in the last six weeks. I think it’s been problematic. I hope we’ll get over this.
“It is going to require a different spirit probably from the EU but I’m sure we are going to see that and see some of this subside as we go forward.”
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