PM urged to face 'insulted and patronised' North East fishing crews
The Scottish Fishermen's Federation has written to Sir Keir Starmer, highlighting concerns with the new deal reached between the UK and EU
Last updated 30th May 2025
The Prime Minister must face the North-East fishing crews he's "insulted and patronised" after agreeing a controversial UK-EU trade deal, according to the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation.
The industry body’s chief executive Elspeth Macdonald has written to Sir Keir Starmer to highlight concerns with the agreement, which permits the bloc a further 12 years of access to UK waters.
Prime Minister says deal is 'win-win' for UK and EU
The EU trade agreement was hailed by the PM as a "win-win" for both the UK and the EU.
UK ministers have pointed out that the deal has been welcomed by Salmon Scotland, which represents the salmon farming industry, and has praised it for slashing red tape for exports.
In her letter, Ms Macdonald said: "It was both insulting and patronising to hear you and your ministers tell us this was a good deal for fishing, because Scottish farmed salmon might, if the EU decides to play ball, be exported without the need for export health certificates at some undetermined point in the future.
"If your government had bothered to understand anything about the fishing industry you would know that farmed salmon and wild capture fisheries are completely separate industries.
"You also told us, again patronisingly, that we should welcome the stability of a 12-year agreement on access, that you know what's best for us.
"The worst possible position for the UK"
"Yet we have spent months telling your ministers that stability in terms of access to waters is the worst possible position for the UK."
She continued: "It was the instability of the EU's access to UK waters from 2026 that was our trump card, and you have not only thrown it away, but ripped it up into tiny pieces before doing so."
Her letter ends with a plea to "do us the decency of meeting with us" to hear concerns first-hand.
A UK Government spokesman said: "We have secured a deal that provides stability and protection for the British fishing industry, with no increase to the quota that EU fishers are allowed to catch in British waters.
Deal brings 'certainty and stability' according to Scottish Secretary
"The deal allows UK vessels' continued access to EU waters - worth £80m per year to fishing communities.
"On top of that, we are also investing £360 million over the next 12 years into the fishing industry."
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray has previously said the deal "gives 12 years of certainty and stability for the industry" and "not one more fish will be taken out of Scottish waters by an EU trawler as part of this deal".