The Briefing Room - UK fishing and Brexit

The UK fishing industry will be central to EU trade negotiations, starting soon. David Aaronovitch explores why a sector, which contributes very little to the overall economy, has gained such political and cultural importance.

He asks why there is such a mismatch between the kind of fish we catch and the kind of fish we eat. When did cod become so central to our diets?

With his guests, he also traces the industry's relationship with the EU down the decades.

To what extent did the imposition of EU quotas reduce the amount of fish UK boats catch? And should fishing now expect a 'Brexit bounce'?

Contributors:

Hazel Curtis, director of Seafish

Nick Fisher, fisherman and author

John Lichfield, journalist

Dr Jill Wakefield, University of Warwick.

Dr Bryce Stewart, University of York

Producers: Kirsteen Knight, Jordan Dunbar and Rosamund Jones.
Editor: Penny Murphy.

Published on Thursday, 20th February 2020.

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