Well, I'll accept that, Carwyn. 

Whilst in the EU, the UK could not exercise control over who, and to what extent other nations could fish in UK waters. This led to what could only be called a plundering of the seas around our coasts. The rape of the fish stocks has led to many, once abundant, species being depleted to such an extent that they're close to being unable to replenish their numbers. There's no doubt that a continuation of the common fisheries policy of the European Union would have a disastrous effect on all fishing stocks. An example of this is the granting of licences to mainly Dutch vessels by the EU to use electric stun fishing methods, which are said to be denuding sea beds of their once plentiful crustacean species. 

Leaving the EU and regaining control of British coastal waters offers the UK the chance to re-establish its once thriving fishing industry, which, at one time, employed more than 100,000 people. This transition will not be established overnight and, therefore, it would be pragmatic for the UK to establish a national fisheries council, which could oversee the licensing of foreign vessels to fish British waters in the transition period, whilst we build the infrastructure and fishing capabilities that once existed around the whole of the UK. This could include modern warehousing facilities and fish processing plants. 

The Welsh fishing industry, as it stands, is relatively small economically. Whilst it is true to say that over 90 per cent of the seafood landed by Welsh fishermen is sold to the EU, there's absolutely no evidence to suggest that this trade, worth somewhere around £38 million, should be affected by our leaving the EU. However, should it prove to be so, the very substantial revenue realised by the sale of licences to foreign vessels in the transitional period could be used to subsidise the Welsh fishing industry until adjustments to its fishing practices are made.

Unlike the EU, where most economies are moribund, the far east economies are expanding rapidly. The Welsh fishing industry could exploit these markets where there is huge potential for their premium products. We should note here that the UK Government has categorically stated that it will increase funding for fisheries across the UK nations. Subsidising the Welsh fishing industry will, if you excuse the pun, be small fry compared to the potential for expanding the Welsh fishing industry in the future. 

As we know, fisheries management is a devolved issue, and I acknowledge at this time, it is unclear the extent to which power over fishing responsibilities will remain, or indeed, be devolved to the Welsh Assembly after Brexit. But there is no reason to suggest that the UK Government will not devolve those powers that will be repatriated to the UK Government to Wales as well. We in the Brexit Party will do all that is necessary to support the Welsh Government in retrieving such powers.

In Wales, there exists the potential for significant gains for the fishing industry by leaving the EU and the CFP. This should be seen as a very real opportunity to completely rethink the structure of the UK fishing industry as a whole by transforming where, how and by whom UK fish stocks are exploited. The problem has been that the increasing global populations have intensified the search for food, with fish presenting a seemingly abundant supply and modern technology making it easier to catch huge numbers of them. This has made overfishing and depletion of fish stocks a serious problem. Since its accession to the European Union and its common fisheries policy, this has been particularly true for the UK, which, until now, has been powerless to redress. 

Some 80 per cent of fish caught in UK waters has been caught by non-UK ships according to British Sea Fishing. They have done so in such damaging ways that they have hugely degraded fish stocks and, more worryingly, the ability of several species to regenerate. Vested interests, lobbying and political protection of national interests have taken more from the sea than it can naturally regenerate. Preservationists have lobbied for the reform of EU fishing practices for many years, but largely to no avail. It is time for alternative policies to be explored and pursued. The vote in the referendum of 23 June 2016 was for the UK to leave the European Union. That vote means that the UK will now take back control of many areas that were previously subject to EU regulation and decision making. In particular, it means that the UK will withdraw from the common fisheries policy of the EU, and be free to take independent action to protect fish stocks within its waters, and revitalise a fishing industry that was savagely cut back by the UK's accession to the EU and adoption of its common fisheries policy. 

The UK now has the chance to marry commercial interests with environmental ones, and to implement a fishing policy that will make UK fishing into a profitable and sustainable industry. It can harness the interests of its fishermen to preserve and protect their future livelihood, by giving them an ownership stake in the fish that swim our waters. It can learn from the successful policies that have been put into effect in other countries—policies that have seen fish stocks return to their normal levels; the creation of a maritime research institute tasked with monitoring fish stocks, examining the levels of different species, mapping breeding grounds and recording all catches made within UK waters; the creation of a national fisheries council to determine a total allowable catch for each species and to assign a quota to each registered fishing vessel that is divisible and tradeable, where all catches must be landed and if any exceed the quota, the vessel must trade or buy quotas from others; where all boats are fitted with satellite tracking devices, and their position is constantly indexed; where all catches' size and species are recorded on landing, with information uploaded to a public database—only really possible if fish stocks caught in British waters are landed at British ports; where UK fishing waters are divided into administrative zones, with the national fisheries council able to impose an immediate suspension of fishing in any areas where the sustainability of any fish stocks appears to be at risk; where there are inspections from the national fisheries council on any fishing vessel over a certain tonnage, twice each year; and where the national fisheries council and the maritime research council publish all their information online, accessible to members of the public, as well as to industry. 

If these policies and structures are put in place, they have the potential to totally revitalise the Welsh fishing industry and reverse the decline we have witnessed over many decades. Thank you.