Saturday, April 5, 2025

UK may lack ships to police waters after Brexit: Govt leak

Date:

Share post:

London: Britain could struggle to stop European Union fishing boats illegally entering its waters after a no-deal Brexit due to a lack of enforcement vessels, according to a leaked government email.
The document, prepared by officials in the Department for Environment and seen by Sky News, warns there is “a lot of uncertainty” over whether the country will have the resources to police its seas. It details concerns that only 12 vessels will be available “to monitor a space three times the size of the surface area of the UK”, the broadcaster said.
The warning comes as French fishermen, who rely heavily on British waters for their catch, have threatened to disrupt UK exports via the Channel if they are denied access after Brexit. Britain will leave the Common Fisheries Policy — which allows EU fishermen access to British waters — and become an independent coastal state if, as increasingly feared, it crashes out of the bloc without a deal on October 31.
Under the terms struck with Brussels by former prime minister Theresa May, it would have continued to allow EU boats access during a 21-month transition period while the two sides tried to reach a new fisheries agreement.
However, British lawmakers rejected the deal three times, forcing Brexit to be delayed to the end of October and May to resign. Her successor Boris Johnson has said the withdrawal agreement must be renegotiated, but Brussels has so far resisted. (AFP)

Related articles

Centre seeking answers to queries on ILP: Paul

SHILLONG, April 4: Amid the long-pending demand to implement the Inner Line Permit in Meghalaya, the Centre has...

My suspension from VPP was ‘premeditated’, says Adelbert

SHILLONG, April 4: North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum on Friday said his suspension from the Voice of the...

All-party committee to consult stakeholders on railway projects

Hynniewtrep land will burn if govt brings rlys, pressure groups warn SHILLONG, April 4: The all-party committee headed by...

HYC threatens to block NEIGRIHMS recruitment

SHILLONG, April 4: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Friday announced that it will not allow NEIGRIHMS to...