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Agriculture Minister Michael Creed on Today's Announcement By The UK Government That It Is Withdrawing From The 1964 London Fisheries Convention

Today's announcement by the UK Government is unwelcome and unhelpful. It is a part of Brexit and will be considered by the EU 27 MSs and the Barnier team when the negotiations commence.  The announcement will have no immediate effect as the withdrawal process from the Convention will take 2 years and will form part of the Brexit negotiations.

The Convention grants rights to neighbouring countries to fish in each other's 6 to 12 miles fishing zones based on historic fishing activity.  The Irish fishing fleet has access to parts of the UK 6-12 mile zone as has the UK fleet to parts of the Irish zone.   These access rights were incorporated into the EU Common Fisheries Policy when we joined the EU.  

The threats posed by Brexit to the Irish fishing industry was discussed last Thursday with the Irish industry at a session of the SeaFest Conference in Galway.  Brexit poses very serious challenges to the seafood sector and this announcement will form part of the negotiations.