Local fleet ‘locked out’ as foreign trawlers retain access to Pembrokeshire coastline

A NEW deal between the UK and the European Union has sparked anger among local fishermen after it emerged that EU vessels will retain access to British waters until 2038 — effectively freezing post-Brexit arrangements for another 12 years.

The agreement, announced on Monday (May 19), confirms that the status quo on fishing access will continue, with EU boats allowed to operate in UK waters on the same basis as before. This comes despite earlier promises that the UK would take full control of its waters from 2026 under Boris Johnson’s post-Brexit deal.

In return, the UK has secured a simplified export regime for food products, including a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement allowing seafood producers to sell raw shellfish and processed goods like sausages into the EU without extensive checks. British holidaymakers will also benefit from greater access to e-passport gates in Europe.

But in Pembrokeshire, where the local fleet has dwindled to just a handful of active fishing vessels — many of them small inshore boats registered under the “M” designation for Milford Haven — the reaction has been grim.

‘A betrayal of Brexit promises’

One local fisherman, who fishes for crab and lobster off the Pembrokeshire coast, told The Herald: “We were told we’d get our waters back by 2026 — now we’re being told to wait another 12 years. Most of us won’t be here by then. It’s a betrayal.”

As locals well know, Milford Haven was once one of the busiest fishing ports in Britain, but today has only a modest local fleet, with most of the fish landed at the docks coming from Belgian or Spanish vessels operating under EU licences. These foreign boats often have greater range, capacity, and quota rights than local Welsh boats, leading to growing resentment.

“The EU trawlers come right up to the six-mile line and hoover up everything,” said another skipper, who asked not to be named. “We get the scraps, and now we’re being told to get used to it.”

Wider backlash across the UK

The reaction has been echoed across the British fishing industry. Elspeth Macdonald, Chief Executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, called the deal “a horror show,” adding: “It is far worse than Boris Johnson’s botched Brexit agreement. The industry has been sold out once again.”

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was even more blunt, saying: “If true, that will be the end of the fishing industry.”

Tim Eagle, Scottish Conservative spokesperson on fisheries, described the agreement as “an absolute disaster,” accusing the Labour government of “surrendering to Brussels.”

Local economy gets a mixed deal

The deal includes a new £360 million “fishing and coastal growth fund” intended to support investment in new technology and equipment. But it remains unclear how much, if any, of that money will reach Milford Haven or the small-scale fleet that still operates from Pembrokeshire.

Meanwhile, seafood processors and exporters in the region are cautiously welcoming the new SPS rules, which will make it easier to export shellfish and fish into EU markets.

“It’s a relief,” said one processor based near the docks. “We’ve had consignments held up or rejected because of paperwork since Brexit. Anything that makes it easier to sell to Europe is a good thing — but it doesn’t solve the problem that we’ve barely got any local fish left.”

The Herald understands that EU vessels currently land over half the fish processed through Milford Haven, with much of it shipped back to the continent. For many in the local industry, the port has shifted from being a home to Welsh fishing to a service hub for foreign fleets.

Welsh Government reaction awaited

While the UK government has defended the deal as providing “certainty and stability” to the fishing industry, opposition parties and coastal MPs have condemned it. The Conservatives have accused the Labour-led negotiating team of “handing back sovereignty,” and Plaid Cymru has called for Wales to receive a guaranteed share of the coastal fund.

Looking to the future

The agreement effectively rules out any major changes to fishing access for another generation. With most of Milford Haven’s remaining boats operating close to shore and relying on non-quota species like crab, lobster, and scallops, the prospects for growth appear limited.

“It’s a managed decline,” said one long-time observer of the port. “Unless there’s serious investment in small boats, apprenticeships, and fairer quota allocations, we could lose what’s left of our fleet before 2038 even arrives.”

Picture caption:

Fading fleet: Milford Haven was once home to one of the UK’s largest fishing fleets. Today, only a handful of “M” boats remain active, with most landings coming from foreign vessels (Pic: Milford Marina).