Brexiteers have dismantled Michel Barnier’s “nonsense” offer that between 15 and 18 percent of the fish quota caught in UK waters by EU fleets would be restored to the UK. Former Brexit Party MEP and host of Unlocked Martin Daubney said that the EU “doesn’t seem to understand that 18 is a smaller number than 100 percent control”. The UK has dismissed the EU offer on rights to Britain’s fishing waters as “derisory”.
Speaking on Unlocked, Mr Daubney said: “Today, on fishing, Barnier said that about 15 to 18 percent will be returned to us.
“Remainers spent the last four years not understanding that 52 is bigger than 48.
“And now the EU don’t seem to understand that 18 is a smaller number than 100 percent control.”
He turned to fellow former MEP and fisheries campaigner June Mummery: “June, how is the fishing community responding to the nonsense of us taking back control via 18 percent of fishing quotas?”
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Ms Mummery responded: “Firstly, Mr Barnier may be able to wrap this Government around his little finger but I can tell you he cannot wrap the great British public around his little finger.
“Fishing is the most sustainable, renewable resource the UK has. What other country would give that away?
“Coastal communities, don’t they matter anymore?
“We are ready on January 1st to get out to sea, protect our ocean, kick out the flag-ships, kick out super-trawlers, and look after our ocean.
Brussels estimates that the EU fleet’s catch in UK waters is worth about €650m a year.
The offer would mean that Brussels would sacrifice fishing rights equivalent to nearly €120m.
One UK official told RTE: “It’s completely unacceptable and unhelpful.”
The BBC’s Katya Adler said, “Brussels knows it has some big compromises to make” on the fishing issue.
