THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
In May 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a deal with the European Union that has caused outrage among British fishermen. He agreed to let EU boats fish in British waters for the next 12 years, until 2038. This long agreement has left the fishing industry feeling betrayed and abandoned.
What Fishermen Expected After Brexit
When Britain left the EU in 2020, one of the big promises was that the UK would “take back control” of its fishing waters. Fishermen were told that Brexit would be good for them. They expected to have more control over who could fish in British seas and how much fish could be caught.
Under Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, fishing rights were reviewed every year. This meant the UK could negotiate and change things annually. Fishermen saw this as their bargaining power with the EU.
What Starmer Gave Away
Starmer’s new deal locks in fishing access for 12 years. This means:
(1]EU fishing boats have guaranteed access to British waters until 2038
(2)The UK cannot renegotiate or change the terms for over a decade
(3)Britain gave up its annual leverage in talks with Europe
The Anger from the Industry
Scottish fishermen have been particularly vocal. Leaders of fishing organizations have called the deal “disastrous” and “a horror show.” Some even say it’s worse than the original Brexit deal they disliked.
Kent fishermen described themselves as the “sacrificial lamb” – meaning they were thrown under the bus so the government could get other things from the EU.
What Made It Worse
What really upset fishermen was seeing how happy EU fishermen were with the deal. French fishermen said they “couldn’t have hoped for better.” When your competitors are celebrating your government’s deal, it’s a bad sign.
Even Starmer’s own Environment Secretary admitted “I would’ve liked if we got more” from the fishing negotiations. This confession made the industry feel their concerns were valid but ignored.
The Bigger Picture
The House of Lords warned that Starmer made a strategic mistake. Under the old arrangement, fishing and energy were linked together. Both came up for renewal at the same time, so the UK and EU had to compromise on both issues.
Now, Britain has given the EU 12 years of certainty on fishing, but energy agreements still need to be renewed every year. This means the EU got what it wanted long-term, while Britain still faces uncertainty on energy market access annually. The UK weakened its own negotiating position.
Why Fishermen Feel Betrayed
The fishing industry feels like they were used as a bargaining chip. After being promised Brexit would help them, they now face:
(1)Long-term loss of control over British waters
(2)No ability to renegotiate for 12 years
(3)A deal that even government ministers admit could have been better
(4)EU fishermen celebrating at their expense
Conclusion
The fishing industry’s anger comes down to broken promises and lost leverage. They were told Brexit would give them more control, but Starmer’s 12-year deal has given them less. They had annual negotiations as their bargaining power, and now it’s gone. Whether the broader benefits of Starmer’s EU deal justify this sacrifice is hotly debated, but for fishermen on the boats and in the ports, it feels like a betrayal of everything Brexit was supposed to deliver for them.
References
1.https://thefishingdaily.com/uk-fishing-industry-news-news/disaster-for-uk-fishermen-as-labour-government-sells-out-fishing/
2.https://www.itv.com/news/2025-05-20/hat-trick-of-trade-deals-starmer-defends-uk-eu-deal-amid-backlash-on-fishing
3.https://www.gbnews.com/politics/eu-fishermen-keir-starmers-uk-eu-deal
4.https://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/kent-fishermen-sir-keir-has-sacrificed-us-for-new-eu-deal-324558/
5.https://www.sff.co.uk/news/sff-responds-12-year-eu-fishing-deal
