Impacts of Brexit on fisheries

Brexit has had significant and multifaceted impacts on Northeast Scotland’s fisheries, a sector long intertwined with European markets and regulation. One major change has been the loss of access to the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) arrangements. Under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the UK and EU, the UK, including Scottish fishers, now negotiates fishing opportunities annually rather than being part of the CFP’s shared quota system. Scottish analysis shows that for key species like North Sea whiting, cod, haddock and saithe, the UK quota share available under the new arrangements is lower than what Scotland typically harvested under the CFP, meaning reduced access to stocks that were central to the local fleet’s catches. Some quota increases have occurred for species such as herring or mackerel, but these are often less relevant to many Scottish vessels or aren’t practically useful to local fleets (Scottish Government, 2023).

The trade and export side has also been heavily affected. New non‑tariff barriers introduced after Brexit, such as Export Health Certificates, customs paperwork, and packaging requirements, have added costs and delays for seafood exports to the EU, Scotland’s traditional largest market. For example, the Scottish seafood sector has faced significantly increased costs per consignment, and processing companies have reported labour shortages that limit capacity. These barriers have made some exports to the EU less viable and increased operational costs for producers and processors alike (Scottish Government, 2023).

Beyond quotas and trade costs, Brexit has also altered labour availability in the sector. The end of freedom of movement has contributed to difficulties in recruiting seasonal and processing staff, with some estimates suggesting 20–25% of vacancies remain unfilled. This has constrained growth and put additional pressure on coastal communities already dealing with demographic challenges (Scottish Government, 2023).