Ulster Unionist representatives have spoken of the anger and disappointment of Northern Ireland’s fishing communities as details emerged of how fishing will be affected during the implementation period of Brexit.    

Strangford MLA Mike Nesbitt said:

“Theresa May had previously said that the UK will come out of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy as soon as it leaves the EU on 29 March 2019, so the news that Brussels will only be required to ‘consult’ the UK ahead of fishing negotiations during the Brexit implementation period – due to last until the end of December 2020 - has not gone down well with the fishing folk in Portavogie and the rest of the Strangford constituency. There are a lot of disappointed people about.

“On Monday, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said that ‘We have secured specific safeguards on behalf of British fishermen.’  My response to that is, that it would be a very good idea for the Government to let the fishermen know what these are.

Councillor Jill Macauley, who represents the Mournes, said:

“There is a great deal of anger and disappointment amongst the fishing community in South Down at this news. We were promised control over our own waters from as early as the end of next year but now we learn that we have to wait until January 2021 to assume full control.”

Kilkeel spokesperson Harold McKee said:

“Brexit offers a huge opportunity for the local fishing industry. Right across the UK many fishing communities backed Brexit because it was seen as a means to regain UK control over UK waters.  

“It is simply not acceptable to officially leave the EU, yet hand back control of our waters to the EU for two more years.

"The fishing industry has lived with compromises for 40 years. They have had enough. It is time to reclaim our UK waters and let us fish the stocks that we have preserved."