Fishing chiefs have called on Brexit negotiators to give the industry the same protections that allowed the oil and gas sector to flourish for decades.
Industry officials say any deal with the European Union must guarantee a strong future for fishermen who – unlike North Sea energy giants – harvest a renewable resource for the UK.
The calls came as Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson paid an early morning visit to the fish market in Peterhead, Europe’s busiest white fish port.
Ms Davidson, whose party is targeting the largely pro-Brexit Banff and Buchan constituency currently held by the SNP’s Eilidh Whiteford, toured the busy auction hall where more than 3,000 boxes of fish were traded yesterday.
While she spoke with skippers and buyers, crates of haddock in the hall around Ms Davidson sold for a record £200 per box.
“We’ve got one chance to get a good Brexit,” Ms Davidson said. “It’s important we do – fishermen here and across Scotland know that the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) hasn’t been kind to the fishing industry and they know any attempts to take us back into the EU mean we would go straight back into it.
“Fishermen are incredibly canny and they know what’s on the table and what’s not. They’re looking at other models around the world and they want something closer to what Norway has than what they have now.
“We need to ensure we get a good deal for Scotland’s fishermen when we leave the EU. The Conservatives are committed to
that, the SNP would take us straight back into the EU and straight back into the CFP.”
But Ms Whiteford last night hit back and claimed the Tories had previously “sold out” the industry.
She said: “Everyone wants to get a good deal for the fishing industry and, unlike the Tories, I have been consistent in my criticism of the CFP.
“But the Tories have admitted that they are simply going to incorporate the CFP into UK law, and are planning to use the industry as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Spanish and others.”
While in Peterhead Ms Davidson, along with Conservative general election candidates David Duguid and Ian Duncan, met officials from the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF). She also signed the SFF’s Brexit Pledge, promising not to return to a CFP-like deal.
SFF chief executive Bertie Armstrong – who has stated the CFP gives away two thirds of the UK’s fish stocks – said: “For oil and gas our exclusive economic zone very firmly exists and it is our resource to exploit as the country sees fit.
“That’s a standing example of what should happen with fishing. You only give concessions if there’s something for you.
That’s the way Norway works it, that’s the way Iceland works it and that’s the way the Faroes work it.”
And speaking about the oil and gas “cash cow”, prominent local skipper Jimmy Buchan added: “We’ve had to trade away fishing rights to the rest of Europe. Why has the government never traded away the oil rights?
“It’s in the same water. If it’s good enough for the oil and gas sector as a national asset, it’s good enough for the fishing sector. Our government has to realise fishing is a renewable resource.”