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FM wanted 'more discussion' on EU fishing rights

Daniel Davies & Oliver Slow
BBC News
Getty Images Eluned Morgan, who has short brown hair, wearing a black top with white spots on it. Getty Images
The first minister said she understood concerns from the fishing industry, but that export capabilities would improve

First Minister Eluned Morgan has welcomed a new deal struck between the UK and the EU, but said she would have "like more discussion" between the Welsh and UK governments on the issue of fishing.

A key part of the deal, which comes after years of disagreements over Brexit, involves giving Europe fishing boats a further 12 years of access to British waters in exchange for easing some trade frictions.

Morgan said the deal offered "more opportunity for jobs and growth", something that is "going to help people pay their bills".

The Farmers' Union of Wales (FAW) said it welcomed efforts "to restore relations with our nearest trading partners", while the Welsh Fisherman's Association said its views broadly aligned with the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO), which said it was "very disappointed" with the deal.

Responding to concerns about the deal in the fishing industry, Morgan said: "On the one hand I can understand there are some issues for them but on the other hand their ability to export is going to be much better than it was before."

Asked if the Welsh government had been consulted over the effect on fishing - control of which is devolved to Wales - she said there had been talks but that she "would have liked more discussion".

"We've had an idea of what's been going on the whole time but the detail wasn't finalised until the past few days," she said.

The Welsh Labour government also welcomed the agreement, with the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, saying Wales "is, and always will be, a proudly outward-looking European nation".

Evans said the Welsh government welcomed the Labour UK government's "commitment to re-set relations with the EU", adding that improved relations between the UK and EU created "new opportunities for enhanced security, safety and economic prosperity for citizens and businesses on both sides of the channel".

The UK Conservatives and Reform UK have described the deal as a "surrender" to the EU, with UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch saying that giving the EU access to British waters for 12 years "was three times longer than the government wanted".

"We're becoming a rule-taker from Brussels once again," she said.

EPA Sir Keir Starmer, in a dark suit, stands at a podium, looking at Ursula von der Leyen, who is wearing a blue jacketEPA
Sir Keir Starmer announced the agreement alongside European Council President Antonia Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

Plaid Cymru Westminster Leader, Liz Saville Roberts, welcomed the deal as a "step in the right direction" towards an EU 'reset' but said the UK government must go further.

Ms Roberts described it as "concerning" that the agreement took place without the involvement of the devolved governments.

"Fisheries are devolved, yet we have seen no meaningful effort to assert Wales's interests or demand a seat at the table," she said.

"Our coastal communities deserve a government that cares about their interests."

Ian Rickman, president of the Farmers' Union for Wales (FUW), said he welcomed the efforts by the UK government to restore relations with the EU.

"The long-term security of the EU market for the trading of agri-food products should not be underestimated given the current volatility of global markets amid tensions over tariffs," he said.

Mr Rickman added that the FUW has raised concerns about "effective border checks on EU food imports entering the UK", and that the agreement should open the door to "ensuring that food imports and exports are subject to similar controls", creating a "level playing field" between UK and EU producers.

The UK government said the deal would make it easier for food and drink to be imported and exported by reducing paperwork and checks.

Some routine checks on animal and plant products will be removed completely, it said.

In return, the UK will give the EU access to its fishing waters until 2038 - a 12-year extension of arrangements already in place.

Getty Images A man in a fish market Getty Images
British control over its fishing waters was a big issue in the Brexit campaign

The post-Brexit deal on fishing rights, which gave EU boats continued access to UK waters, was set to expire at the end of June 2026.

The UK government has also unveiled a £360m investment fund in coastal communities and the fishing industry.

Fishing accounts for an estimated 0.4% of UK GDP, but British control over its fishing waters was a big issue in the Brexit campaign.

The Welsh Fisherman's Association said it was still working through the details of the deal, but questioned how the prime minister can "commit to an agreement that extends beyond his term of office".

"Whilst it us understood that international agreements are not a devolved matter they nevertheless should be the result of consultation with the relevant Welsh ministers and indeed Welsh stakeholders which explains why today's news was so shocking," they said, adding that the organisation's view broadly aligned with the NFFO.

The NFFO said granting 12 additional years to EU boats in UK waters "surrenders the best prospect that the fishing industry and coastal communities had for growth over the coming decade".