Anne-Marie Trevelyan stood up for Northumbrian fishermen in Parliament yesterday during questions to the Department of Exiting the European Union. Anne-Marie was deeply concerned regarding recent EU documents that took an aggressive line on maintaining full access to our fishing waters. Anne-Marie was determined to bring this matter to the Secretary of State so that he could confirm that we would be taking back control of our waters and would therefore decide who could fish in them.
The Secretary of State The Rt Hon David Davis said in reply “My hon. Friend is right, and it was a very odd linkage to make. The simple truth is that when we leave the European Union we will be an independent coastal state, and as a result we will control our own waters. As stated in DEFRA questions last week, we will continue negotiations with neighbouring states about catch—because fish move—quotas, and all the rest of it. However, we will control our own destiny”
Following the session, Anne-Marie said “It is extremely important that we are taking back control of our waters and leaving the Common Fisheries Policy. This is good news for our fishing industry which can thrive and grow as an independent coastal state, which will have control of our exclusive economic zone, be responsible for the management of natural marine resources in that area, and be able to control and manage access to UK waters, including fisheries.”