6. Debate: Brexit and the Fishing Industry

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:44 pm on 3 July 2018.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 5:44, 3 July 2018

Diolch, Llywydd. I'd like to thank Members for their contributions, and I'll turn to some of the points they raised in a moment.

I'll just start with the amendments. I ask the Assembly to oppose amendment 1, and recognise the very real and distinct challenges that do face the fishing industry; oppose amendment 2 on the basis the Welsh Government's been very clear it expects full, unfettered access to the EU market after Brexit, and anything short of this has the potential to harm the industry; and oppose amendment 3 on the basis that an exclusive economic zone will have little or no positive impact on the Welsh fleet and it actually could negatively affect trade negotiations with the EU. I'd ask Members to support amendments 4, 5 and 6. I believe a strong Welsh voice in negotiations is of vital importance, and I of course recognise the importance of this industry to our coastal communities. The Welsh Government has made significant investment over previous years to the sector and we will work hard to ensure it gets its fair share in the future.

Simon Thomas referred to evidence I gave last week to the Finance Committee. I do agree it is an area where we need to continue to put extra funding and resources, but Members will be aware that we've got new enforcement vessels currently being built. I agree around the research—I think that's an area where we need to have some significant input—but we already work very closely with Bangor University and have use of the Prince Madog, which helps us to undertake marine research. 

Neil Hamilton and David Rowlands referred to environmental disaster. Well, I absolutely disagree with that. UK fisheries—as a result of the CFP, it means most of our fisheries are being managed sustainably. We're working towards MSC accreditation of our fisheries—that's a quality mark—and we will continue to do that. 

David Melding, we do very proactively engage with the fishing sector. I mentioned that they sit on the ministerial advisory group. I have regular meetings with the fishing sector. So, I think we do that anyway, but of course we can always do more. Suzy Davies talked about the word 'opportunities' for the first time. As even Neil Hamilton recognised, I do use the word 'opportunities'. It's very hard sometimes to look for them, but I think we have to do that. I engage fully in the quadrilaterals with my UK Government counterparts. The next one's on Thursday in London and it's really important that Welsh Government sits around that table. You also mentioned the EU transition fund. My portfolio did very well in the first tranche, and while you say it's only £2.1 million, I have to say that my food and drink companies are very happy with the funding that we've already got. 

Several Members talked about shellfish and seafood. I've just today announced a new £1 million project to market to both domestic and international markets. The UK market will not absorb the volume of shellfish that we have been exporting, so we need to look for new markets. I was at Liverpool port yesterday, having discussions there around the amount of shellfish that is exported there, particularly from north Wales, and clearly we don't want to see it sitting on the docks. You made a very good point about James Wilson and Bangor mussels. 

I also wanted to be clear to Simon Thomas about the quota: it was Welsh fishing businesses that sold the quota to Spanish boats. It is a public good and I've no intention of allowing quota to be sold out of Wales. We don't own it, we're guardians of it, and it's really important for our future generations. I'm certainly happy to consider a moratorium on the sale and movement of quota outside of Wales and I think we could include that in a future fisheries policy.

So, I'm very pleased with today's debate. I think we all must recognise that the future is very challenging for this sector, but also there is great potential and opportunities, and I will continue to work hard to ensure that we are delivering for Wales over the coming months. I welcome Members' support.