I am in my third week of Parliament and now have an office! It is in the Palace, up in the gods, overlooking Big Ben and surrounded by scaffolding. It is good to have a settled space from which I – and part of ‘Team Hastings and Rye’ - can work on behalf of our constituents.
I have had a busy couple of weeks in the House of Commons working on behalf of you all. Last week, in the Commons Chamber, I asked my first ever question – about fishing. My question focussed on the Government’s support for our our local under-10 metre fishing fleets. I want to ensure that our fisheries are given the room and opportunity to flourish after Brexit is done. This means that our under-10 metre fleet must be given specific attention so that it is given more autonomy and flexibility in post-Brexit Britain. Our fishermen know their sea and stocks. They should be given the opportunity to manage their own areas to ensure future viability and sustainability of local fishing. I was assured by the Brexit Minister, James Duddridge, that special attention will be given and that when we leave the EU, we will become an independent coastal state, developing a domestic fisheries policy that promotes our fleet, protects our precious marine environment and stocks, whilst ensuring profitability and diversity for our fisheries.
Hastings and Rye have ancient fishing fleets and their long term futures are vital to our local communities. Hastings is the UK’s largest beach-launched fleet and attracts visitors from all over the world. But, it is not just about the fishing economy and the businesses and families the fleets support; our fishing communities have historically been the heart and souls of our towns. Freedom on the seas, coupled with an element of danger, gives us a romantic notion about fishermen, but it is hard work, often hazardous and requires skills learned over many years. We are proud of our fishing heritage as well as the local jobs fishing supports and the industry’s contribution to local tourism.
Our fleets mainly comprise of under 10 metre boats, which are by their very nature, more environmentally and ecologically responsive and sustainable than larger boats. But they have been badly hit by the EU fishing distribution quota, with higher quotas going to large fishing firms. Our fishing communities have long fought for a fairer quota system; it is unacceptable that our fishermen have had to dump fish, such as skate and plaice, back in the sea because their tiny quotas have run out.
We will not continue to allow the EU to dictate to us over our own territorial fishing waters and I will fight to ensure that fisheries will not become a bargaining chip in further EU negotiations. The EU decimated our fishing industry. Leaving the EU gives us the opportunity to regain and exercise total control over our waters and revitalise our fishing fleets and communities. Too many of the EU practices are environmentally and ecologically unacceptable. We will introduce a domestic fisheries policy that promotes the under-10 metre fleet, is profitable and diverse and which uses traditional practices to protect stocks and our precious marine environment.
Sally-Ann Hart MP