Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland's fishermen being `mugged in broad daylight' over Brexit dividend fish

A fish producers organisation has said Northern Ireland's fishermen are being "mugged in broad daylight" over Brexit dividend fish
A fish producers organisation has said Northern Ireland's fishermen are being "mugged in broad daylight" over Brexit dividend fish

A fish producers organisation has said Northern Ireland's fishermen are being "mugged in broad daylight".

The Anglo-North Irish Fish Producers Organisation (ANIFPO) said the north is due about £20m a year of Brexit dividend fish returned by EU fleets but may only get about half of that.

ANIFPO said much of NI's "fair share" will go to Scotland.

Alan McCulla, Chief Executive of ANIFPO, said if the share out was approved it would be an "unjust and bitter blow to our sector".

"We are being mugged in broad daylight because London believes we can be sacrificed without serious repercussions," he said.

Mr McCulla said London was now planning to slash Northern Ireland's fishing entitlement and the government was turning its back on manifesto commitments to local fishermen.

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) spokesman said: "The UK and EU's historic trade agreement reflects our new status as an independent coastal state and protects and promotes the rights of fishermen across all parts of the UK.

"We are committed to ensuring that the additional quota the UK secured through the trade and cooperation agreement brings the maximum economic benefit to our coastal communities - and more details on this allocation will be announced shortly."