With just days to go before Sir Keir Starmer’s big summit with the EU, fury is building over rumours that the UK might be preparing to cave in on fishing rights — and people are not having it.
A new poll has revealed that Scots overwhelmingly oppose the idea of giving European boats greater access to British waters. The numbers are eye-watering: 87% of respondents said only the UK should control who gets to fish in our Exclusive Economic Zone. And if access is granted? Well, 81% think we should get something in return, reported GB News.
Even more striking, the poll was done in a part of the country that largely backed Remain. In the Highlands and Islands, support for “benefits in return for access” hit a staggering 91%. In Mid Scotland and Fife, it was 89%. These are not small numbers — it’s a clear message that any sell-out on fisheries is not going to go down well.
Starmer hasn’t addressed the brewing controversy yet, but it’s emerging just as a major trade agreement is said to be close. The deal could see the UK benefit from the EU’s massive €150 billion defence fund — but at the cost of giving away more control over our waters.
This, of course, flies in the face of one of the biggest Brexit promises — to take back control of our fishing grounds. Back in 2016, Leave campaigners pushed hard on this, with the likes of Michael Gove calling for a profitable, sustainable UK-led fishing industry that would revive coastal communities.
Now, with EU fishermen accused of devastating marine life in UK waters — including shocking claims of killing seabirds, mammals, and dumping huge amounts of plastic — the thought of easing restrictions further has sparked outrage.
Images from recent investigations show distressing scenes: dead animals tangled in discarded nets, washed up after failed attempts to break free. It’s no wonder British fishing communities feel under siege.
In Scotland, the backlash is already political. At Holyrood, the Conservatives are demanding that the SNP pull support for the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy and back a tougher UK stance. Tim Eagle MSP put it bluntly: “Scotland’s fishing communities must not be sold out again.”
The UK Fisheries Campaign is now picking up steam, with politicians and coastal communities calling for firm action in the upcoming talks. With the current agreement set to expire in 2026, negotiations are heating up — and for many, this is a fight for the future of British fishing.
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