Taking back control’s big catch for fishing and farming – The Yorkshire Post says

FOUR years to the week after Britain voted to leave the European Union, and almost a year since Boris Johnson became Prime Minister, what does ‘taking back control’ mean?
Can Britain become the lobster capital of Europe? Photo: James Hardisty.Can Britain become the lobster capital of Europe? Photo: James Hardisty.
Can Britain become the lobster capital of Europe? Photo: James Hardisty.

Even though Britain left the EU last December, and that the 12-month transition period runs out at the end of this year, farmers and fishermen – who motivated Mr Johnson’s stance on Brexit – remain a limbo.

And assuming that the Government does not request an extension to this new deadline – June 30 is the cut-off point – Ministers face another race against time to get the necessary arrangements in place.

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This is borne out by the concerns that Chris Haskins, a much respected farmer, entrepreneur and politician (and not necessarily in that order) articulates in today’s newspaper.

What is the future for Bridlington's fishing fleet after Brexit?What is the future for Bridlington's fishing fleet after Brexit?
What is the future for Bridlington's fishing fleet after Brexit?

His is a must read contribution – irrespective of one’s views on Brexit – if farm and food standards are not be to be compromised by a race to the bottom if the intended UK–US trade deal goes ahead as planned.

But there are also opportunities – such as the plans to promote Yorkshire, and Bridlington in particular, as Europe’s ‘lobster capital’.

For, while the 310 tonne of lobster caught by shell fishermen in the resort last year represent 17.5 per cent of the total catch in Europe, the vast majority are exprted to France and Spain.

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Yet here’s the irony. It leaves visitors to Bridlington sampling lobster from Canada, hence the work being done to reverse this so the region’s proud fishing industry can actually take back control of its destiny if the Government is ready to help UK fleets to flourish. And that’s the big catch...

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

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Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor

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