Exclusive-'It's a catastrophe': Scottish fishermen halt exports due to Brexit red tape

[snoop1130]

Exclusive-'It's a catastrophe': Scottish fishermen halt exports due to Brexit red tape

By Kate Holton

 

FILE PHOTO: View of fishing boats and a net in the coastal town of Macduff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Britain October 18, 2020. REUTERS/Alexander Smith

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Many Scottish fishermen have halted exports to European Union markets after post-Brexit bureaucracy shattered the system that used to put fresh langoustines and scallops in French shops just over a day after they were harvested.

 

Fishing exporters told Reuters their businesses could become unviable after the introduction of health certificates, customs declarations and other paperwork added days to their delivery times and hundreds of pounds to the cost of each load.

 

Business owners said they had tried to send small deliveries to France and Spain to test the new systems this week but it was taking five hours to secure a health certificate in Scotland, a document which is required to apply for other customs paperwork.

 

In the first working week after Brexit, one-day deliveries were taking three or more days - if they got through at all.

 

Several owners could not say for sure where their valuable cargo was. A trade group told fishermen to stop fishing exported stocks.

 

“Our customers are pulling out,” Santiago Buesa of SB Fish told Reuters. “We are fresh product and the customers expect to have it fresh, so they’re not buying. It’s a catastrophe.”

 

On Thursday evening, the Scottish fishing industry’s biggest logistics provider DFDS Scotland told customers it had taken the “extraordinary step” of halting until Monday export groupage, when multiple product lines are carried, to try to fix IT issues, paperwork errors and the backlog.

 

Scotland harvests vast quantities of langoustines, scallops, oysters, lobsters and mussels from sea fisheries along its bracing Atlantic coast which are rushed by truck to grace the tables of European diners in Paris, Brussels and Madrid.

 

But Britain’s departure from the EU’s orbit is the biggest change to its trade since the launch of the Single Market in 1993, introducing reams of paperwork and costs that must be completed to move goods across the new customs border.

 

Those trading in food and livestock face the toughest requirements, hitting the express delivery of freshly caught fish that used to move overnight from Scotland, via England, into France, before going on to other European markets in days.

 

David Noble, whose Aegirfish buys from Scottish fleets to export to Europe, said he would have to pay between 500 to 600 pounds ($815) per day for paperwork, wiping out most profit.

 

His concern is that this marks more than just teething problems, and says he cannot pass on the higher costs of doing business. “I’m questioning whether to carry on,” he said.

 

“If our fish is too expensive our customers will buy elsewhere.”

 

CENTURIES OLD MARKET

 

In the single market, European food could be processed and packed in Britain then returned to the EU for sale. But Britain’s pursuit of a more distant relationship means its trade deal does not cover all interactions between the two sides.

 

Gaps have already appeared on French and Irish shop shelves.

 

Fishing trade bodies said mistakes in filling out paperwork meant entire consignments were being checked. A French fishmongers’ union said numerous seafood trucks had been held up at the customs point in Boulogne for several hours, and even up to a day, due to faulty paperwork.

 

While that should improve with time, and IT issues should be resolved, Seafood Scotland warned they could see the “destruction of a centuries-old market” if it does not.

 

Fergus Ewing, Scottish secretary for the rural economy, said the right balance between speed and scrutiny must be found.

 

“It is far better for problems to be identified and resolved here in Scotland,” he said.

 

SB Fish’s Buesa, angered at suggestions that traders were not prepared, said all his paperwork was correct and demanded to know why business leaders were not making more of a fuss.

 

He owns the business with his father, has been exporting for 28 years and employs around 50 people. “I’m in the trenches here,” he said. “It’s gridlock.”

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-01-08

 

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[vogie]

The SNP have failed to recruit inspectors for the fish after receiving £1 million from the treasury for such an event, they are worse than useless.

 

"From January every catch will need to have an environmental health certificate, signed off by an environmental health officer.

It was revealed on Thursday that the Scottish Government is still 100 officers short – with just weeks to go until Brexit.

MPs are demanding answers as to why there is a shortage, given Holyrood has received more than £100 million from the Treasury over the last three years to prepare for such things."

 

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/politics/uk-politics/2682145/brexit-scottish-fish-producers-hit-by-ministers-recruitment-mess/

 

 

[ukrules]

The 'health certificates' issue is a COVID related thing, that's the problem.

 

Perhaps they could sell them to the English, langoustine is very popular in England.

[impulse]

Ooh.  Didn't see that one coming...

 

[In the jungle]

Damn.  Who could have possibly foreseen that there was a downside to Brexit?

[champers]

Much of their exports are to restaurants, or wholesalers to restaurants, and many are closed or restricted. A blame game is being played.

[smedly]

60% of Scotland trade is in the "UK" 17% in the EU and the rest to the world

 

 

maybe they should think about selling into the UK - never mind the French

 

 

This is a completely none news story - the huge market is right on their door step, time to concentrate on British

 

It's a bit like the Dairy trade across the Irish border - the EU provides subsidies to the processing plants a few miles across the border from N I. ................processing cannot compete, milk a cow send it to the Republic of Ireland  a few miles down the road - why ?

 

Things are changing - as and example , lets do our own processing of Dairy - lets sell our catch into the huge UK market .......................................

 

lets look after ourselves in the UK - BIG market

[smedly]

3 hours ago, In the jungle said:

Damn.  Who could have possibly foreseen that there was a downside to Brexit?

No downside - just a few adjustments and some national pride, we now own our waters excluding transition period (which I agree with) 

 

lets go fishing, we love Cod in the UK and all the rest.....................trading of seafood is a big business - the premium dirty market in France owns it - but not any more 

 

5 years to adjust - 5 years to build a UK fishing fleet - not possible until now

[Scott]

Troll post reported and removed. 

[champers]

4 hours ago, smedly said:

60% of Scotland trade is in the "UK" 17% in the EU and the rest to the world

 

 

maybe they should think about selling into the UK - never mind the French

 

 

This is a completely none news story - the huge market is right on their door step, time to concentrate on British

 

It's a bit like the Dairy trade across the Irish border - the EU provides subsidies to the processing plants a few miles across the border from N I. ................processing cannot compete, milk a cow send it to the Republic of Ireland  a few miles down the road - why ?

 

Things are changing - as and example , lets do our own processing of Dairy - lets sell our catch into the huge UK market .......................................

 

lets look after ourselves in the UK - BIG market

More margin in selling to foreign restaurants rather than to hard-nosed UK supermarkets. Why don't you see langoustines for sale at Asda or Morrisons?

[Chomper Higgot]

Voting has consequences.

 

Enjoy.

[Dogbarker]

Would love to see these products actually offered at local supermarkets in the UK even at a reduced price it would establish a market for other fished products again...

 

[sandyf]

10 hours ago, In the jungle said:

Damn.  Who could have possibly foreseen that there was a downside to Brexit?

Quite.

Red tape was a deterrent to trade before the single market, nobody thought the immunisation would actually wear off.

[sandyf]

3 hours ago, champers said:

 Why don't you see langoustines for sale at Asda or Morrisons?

Because your average Brit doesn't want seafood.

I remember some years ago Lidl had lobsters at a reasonable price and nobody bought them, I bought one when they were reduced quite substantially but even then they weren't selling well.

[placeholder]

27 minutes ago, Dogbarker said:

Would love to see these products actually offered at local supermarkets in the UK even at a reduced price it would establish a market for other fished products again...

 

Think the prople who earn their living from fishing would love those reduced prices, too?

[mrfill]

7 hours ago, smedly said:

No downside - just a few adjustments and some national pride, we now own our waters excluding transition period (which I agree with) 

 

lets go fishing, we love Cod in the UK and all the rest.....................trading of seafood is a big business - the premium dirty market in France owns it - but not any more 

 

5 years to adjust - 5 years to build a UK fishing fleet - not possible until now

Good job that of the 115000 tons of cod consumed a year, only 15000 comes from UK waters which mostly contains mackerel and herrings - fish not that popular in the UK.

Edited January 9, 2021 by mrfill

[Patong2021]

Maybe Scottish people should ask the rest of the world how it is done?

USA and Canada sell much seafood to the EU and Asia for decades. They can deliver fresh shellfish including lobster to EU  overnight. Maybe lady from SNP should concentrate on this and not  her dreams of a magical land where she can be princess.

[George Aylesham]

9 hours ago, smedly said:

No downside - just a few adjustments and some national pride, we now own our waters excluding transition period (which I agree with) 

 

lets go fishing, we love Cod in the UK and all the rest.....................trading of seafood is a big business - the premium dirty market in France owns it - but not any more 

 

5 years to adjust - 5 years to build a UK fishing fleet - not possible until now

 

1 hour ago, placeholder said:

Think the prople who earn their living from fishing would love those reduced prices, too?

Yes but the people who owned the fishing quotas sold most of them off to foreign fishing fleets. Most EU member states have forbidden the sale of quotas for many years - Britain didnt.

[Ventenio]

planning.  thinking.  planning.  these jokers had a long time to figure this out.

 

99% of the media is focused on TRUMP...... so i feel bad these fisherman will be crying over spilled milk

 

i have plan b, c, d, e, f and the necessary plan XXX.  

[Dogbarker]

The logistics costs would be reduced for a start and generally long term they need to recreate a market for these products  and educate the consumer........  They need to have the correct paperwork to export and even with the will we or won't we of Brexit they need to prepare for all outcomes. Good luck to the fishermen they have opportunities for the future.

[BritManToo]

SNP wants to leave the UK and join the EU.

Can't help feeling this story is propaganda to further that aim.

 

But I do remember the local fish and chip shop couldn't buy local fish and had to use foreign imported fish.

Which was a bit odd as I lived in a Cornish fishing village.

[puipuitom]

What is the problem ? The British fishermen are in control of their waters, exactly as they insisted.

As everybody in the fish industry knows already for decades: when you want to export fish(products) from a WTO-Third country into the EU, you first have to get an EU fish allowance number. You can get it, when your facility is inspected and approved by an EU appointed auditor. Without this approval number, the EU veterinary inspectors will NOT inspect your fish, and it will not be allowed into the EU.

Oh, the British fishermen forgot this the last 5 years, as they relied on Boris the Liar and his Brexiteer-team who al were NOT interested in details, details, details, only: Brexit is done? 

( buy-the-way: about same problem for dairy, poultry, and all meat. I wish the British farmers and processing industry much luck)

Who burns his bottom, must sit on the blisters.

 

TARIC Measure Information (europa.eu)

CHAPTER 3

FISH AND CRUSTACEANS, MOLLUSCS AND OTHER AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES

0302	Fish, fresh or chilled, excluding fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304 :   (TN701)

-   Herrings (Clupea harengus, Clupea pallasii), anchovies (Engraulis spp.), sardines (Sardina pilchardus, Sardinops spp.), sardinella (Sardinella spp.), brisling or sprats (Sprattus sprattus), mackerel (Scomber scombrus, Scomber australasicus, Scomber japonicus), Indian mackerels (Rastrelliger spp.), seerfishes (Scomberomorus spp.), jack and horse mackerel (Trachurus spp.), jacks, crevalles (Caranx spp.), cobia (Rachycentron canadum), silver pomfrets (Pampus spp.), Pacific saury (Cololabis saira), scads (Decapterus spp.), capelin (Mallotus villosus), swordfish (Xiphias gladius), Kawakawa (Euthynnus affinis), bonitos (Sarda spp.), marlins, sailfishes, spearfish (Istiophoridae), excluding edible fish offal of subheadings 0302 91 to 0302 99 :

0302 41

-  -   Herrings (Clupea harengus, Clupea pallasii) :   (TN084)

0302 41 00 10

-  -  -   Of a weight exceeding 100 g per piece, for processing

0302 41 00 90  All third countries (ALLTC 1008) Veterinary control (14-12-2019 - )   (CD624) (CD686) (CD737)     Excluding:  Andorra (AD) , Switzerland (CH) , Faroe Islands (FO) , Greenland (GL) , Iceland (IS) , Liechtenstein (LI) , Norway (NO) , San Marino (SM United Kingdom (GB)   Tariff preference (01-01-2021 - ) :  0 %

[puipuitom]

10 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Maybe Scottish people should ask the rest of the world how it is done?

USA and Canada sell much seafood to the EU and Asia for decades. They can deliver fresh shellfish including lobster to EU  overnight. Maybe lady from SNP should concentrate on this and not  her dreams of a magical land where she can be princess.

See my earlier comment: get an EU fish allowance number, and get passed the EU veterinary control. As ALL WTO-third countries do for decades.

[tebee]

It would be terribly ironic if Brexit caused the demise of large parts of the British fishing industry.....

[vinny41]

SNP ‘hindering fish exports to score Brexit points’

It’s a sad fact that the government in Edinburgh are crossing their fingers and hoping for failure so they can try to score political points, instead of doing their job and giving the Scottish fishing industry all the necessary resources.
“Funding provided to the SNP for Brexit preparations, alongside funding for business support in general, have gone unspent. The SNP are doing the bare minimum and it’s creating huge issues.

https://dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2021/01/snp-hindering-fish-exporters-to-score-brexit-points/

[puipuitom]

8 minutes ago, vinny41 said:

SNP ‘hindering fish exports to score Brexit points’

It’s a sad fact that the government in Edinburgh are crossing their fingers and hoping for failure so they can try to score political points, instead of doing their job and giving the Scottish fishing industry all the necessary resources.
“Funding provided to the SNP for Brexit preparations, alongside funding for business support in general, have gone unspent. The SNP are doing the bare minimum and it’s creating huge issues.

https://dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2021/01/snp-hindering-fish-exporters-to-score-brexit-points/

When the British negotiators had accepted to follow EU veterinary rules ( and food safety, so FSA, BRC etc were also mutually accepted), there would not have been any problem, not for fish, for meat, for poultry and eggs, for diary.

Has NOTHING to do with the SNP

Edited January 9, 2021 by puipuitom

[vinny41]

5 minutes ago, puipuitom said:

When the British negotiators had accepted to follow EU veterinary rules ( and food safety, so FSA, BRC etc were also mutually accepted), there would not have been any problem, not for fish, for meat, for poultry and eggs, for diary.

Has NOTHING to do with the SNP

Suggest you read the  article again

“Funding provided to the SNP for Brexit preparations, alongside funding for business support in general, have gone unspent. The SNP are doing the bare minimum and it’s creating huge issues

https://dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2021/01/snp-hindering-fish-exporters-to-score-brexit-points/

[david555]

4 hours ago, tebee said:

It would be terribly ironic if Brexit caused the demise of large parts of the British fishing industry.....

It is only sad to see it are the Scots who become by the first victims of brexit..... while they even voted against it !

It shall fire up more independence wish ...... the next  hot potato for Boris  

Edited January 9, 2021 by david555

[stevenl]

36 minutes ago, vinny41 said:

Suggest you read the  article again

“Funding provided to the SNP for Brexit preparations, alongside funding for business support in general, have gone unspent. The SNP are doing the bare minimum and it’s creating huge issues

https://dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2021/01/snp-hindering-fish-exporters-to-score-brexit-points/

Suggest you read the article again 'scottish tories claim snp is not doing enough'. I would not trust the scottish tories to give an unbiased opinion.

Edited January 9, 2021 by stevenl

[Scott]

Troll posts removed.   Continue with the nonsensical memes and you will face a suspension.