Brexit sold out Britain's fishermen - from fishing rights to declining fleet

Brexit promised Britain greater control over its fishing grounds, but a decade on the sector tells a different story. The Trade and Cooperation Agreement was meant to return waters to UK fleets, yet last year the government quietly extended fishing rights for twelve more years, locking EU vessels into British waters until 2038. In 2024 the UK fishing fleet generated £1.15 billion in income and posted profits up 26 percent to £337 million, while landings reached 716,000 tonnes, up 15 percent from the prior year. The fleet comprises 3,785 active vessels and sustains 7,263 full-time jobs, with England down 4 percent in 2024 and Scotland following a similar decline. On the ground in Devon’s Brixham harbour, fishermen describe Brexit as a betrayed promise rather than a bold new era. George Shipley, 34, acting skipper, says politicians would owe him a drink if seen on the quayside, reflecting a pervasive mistrust of government pledges. Barry Young, Managing Director of Brixham Trawler Agents, calls the policy shift a betrayal, arguing licensing giveaways favored larger foreign vessels over Britain’s own crews. Taken together, the numbers reveal a sector with strong headline totals but a shrinking active fleet and a risk to livelihoods in traditional fishing communities.