Originally posted by Eirikur
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Cornwall fisherman says Brexit export costs are 'a kick in the teeth'Originally posted by vetran View Post
Mr Trust voted for Brexit in 2016 - but said the leave campaign duped them.
A fisherman has had to stop exporting to Europe because of high costs and red tape brought on by Brexit.
Andy Trust, owner of Ocean Harvest in Looe, said in a normal year around 30 per cent of his company’s sales would be exports markets in France, Spain and Italy.
But ever since the Brexit transition period ended, with the UK now operating on its own trade agreement decided in late December 2020, Mr Trust has not been able to sell a single fish at an EU country.
“The cost of red tape is just too expensive,” he said, “You can’t sell there as a smaller merchant.
“For the last 20 years you could put fish in a box, load it into a lorry and off it goes.
“Now, it’s getting pulled up in Boulogne and turned away for the smallest thing.
“They’re inspecting it, with lorries delayed for three, four, even ten hours - if the fish even make it at all.
“It’s been a kick in the teeth.”
According to Mr Trust, a 200kg shipment to the EU used to cost him around £70 in fees.
Now it’s closer to £220, which he said is not worth shipping.
Ocean Harvest is a relatively small-scale wholesaler, which aims to sell fresh fish within a day of them being caught.
Mr Trust said the current trading agreement punishes small-scale exporters like him, while larger companies which can send off tonnes of product per day are still able to keep going.
The agreement included a section on fishing which would expand the amount of product which UK fisheries could take.
However, it was less of an increase than expected and, now, smaller exporters are finding the drawbacks of expensive import fees not worth the increase in quota.
Mr Trust added the only viable way for his company to start exporting to Europe again would be to hire a permanent fiscal representative in France to sort out the paperwork on the EU side.
But this would cost around ten thousand euros per year, with a hefty start-up fee.
“Boris keeps talking about getting the quotas back in five years - but, there won’t be a fishing industry in the five years at this rate.”
Alongside 90 per cent of the fishing industry across the UK, Mr Trust voted for Brexit in 2016 - but said the leave campaign duped them.
“When they were talking about increasing the quotas, making our own decisions, that sounded good.
“And they had a big red bus which said they’d fund the NHS, that sounded good.
“I fell for it. I didn’t realise, and I’m shooting myself in the bloody foot.”
“Given a second chance I wouldn’t have voted for it, it’s totally buggered me up and it’s geared for people selling multiple tonnes of fish.
“It will cost jobs.”
Mr Trust's cousin, Ian Perkes, in Brixham, recently said he was having similar problems with his own fishing business, explaining his regrets regarding voting for Brexit.
"The reality is we’re now January 20, we’ve yet to send a consignment to Europe from Brixham. It’s just been an absolute nightmare," he said.
"Forty four years I’ve been selling fish and overnight it’s pretty much been destroyed. I don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel."
Paul Trebilcock, chief executive of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation (CFPO), said his worries back in December about the trade agreement's effects on the fishing industry have come true.
"There have been significant problems since the start of the year," he said.
"Some it was expected, additional paperwork because we're outside the EU. but the level and complexity of that additional paperwork has been huge."
The CFPO represents the fishing industry in Cornwall, and has been meeting with the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to bring Cornish fishermen's concerns to the government's attention.Leave a comment:
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The controls will come in when the lockdown partially ends and warehouses have been emptied after stockpiling. That is when the fun and games begin...people all out and shopping as the government want them to go out and spend all that money they've been saving to boost the economy ...Leave a comment:
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You're 100% correct. Brexit is going so well. SME's are not suffering at all.Originally posted by vetran View Post
Imports to EU is problematic due to new controls. Food is rotting. UK fish exports are a shambles.
But, as you note, we in the UK are not seeing any issues with food coming into the UK. It's all running smoothly ..... but then, we haven't put any controls in place yet. The UK govt are still effectively running things as if we were still in the EU.
But of course, you knew this .... right?
Brexit: How much disruption has there been so far? - BBC NewsLeave a comment:
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They’re mostly dribbling racist brexit loving twats. Not many fishermen remoaners exist.Originally posted by Whorty View PostFeck these small family run businesses. They should have been better prepared. They knew Brexit was coming. Bloody remoaners.
On a positive note, I bought a loaf of bread this week so I'm alright
Lovely turnip sandwich for tea tonight 
**** ‘em...Leave a comment:
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Feck these small family run businesses. They should have been better prepared. They knew Brexit was coming. Bloody remoaners.
On a positive note, I bought a loaf of bread this week so I'm alright Lovely turnip sandwich for tea tonight
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Brexit: 71 pages of paperwork for 1 lorry of fish
Only posted as proof that AtW is not updating us properly on fishing threads....
Brexit: 71 pages of paperwork for 1 lorry of fish - BBC News
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