The UK fishing industry was frequently highlighted during the process that led to the UK’s departure from the EU. Since Brexit was fully brought about from the beginning of 2021, the fishing industry has seen a range of impacts, many of which industry members have reported to be unexpected and unwelcome. Although the industry is diverse in terms of geography, scale, and fishing methods, detrimental impacts on livelihoods, business turnover, labour, exports, and access were reported across various segments of the sector. However, there is hope that the situation could be improved. The recommendations within this report highlight pathways that may bring this to reality.

To complement and build on the report, the APPG subsequently interviewed a number of its Parliamentary members from four political parties. Their views on the importance of the fishing industry to the UK, and how government and policy can help the industry to thrive, have been compiled in a new video, “A Post-Brexit Future for UK Fishing”.

This report, published in June 2022, presents a synthesis of views gathered from the UK fishing industry based on their experiences in the 12 months after the UK officially left the EU.

The materials described above are not official publications of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. They have not been approved by either House or its committees. All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues. The views expressed in the report and in the video are those of the group.