Without a doubt the Brexiteers have betrayed British fishing. On the table is a proposal for Britain to effectively remain in the EU Common Fisheries Policy for almost two years after March 2019. Yes, this is a practical and pragmatic measure in a long and detailed negotiation but its runs in the opposite direction to the one pushed for by the likes of backbench MP Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Ministers have defended their position by asking the hard core Brexiters, who like to think they run Britain, to hold fire and play a long game. This is much like asking your favourite football team to carry on loosing because one day over the horizon they might just win.
All this political theatre continues apace even when there’s no clear Fisheries Policy to replace the one we have now.
It’s bazaar to see angry fishing protesters throw dead fish into the Thames river outside The Houses of Parliament in London. Perhaps a nice meal for a passing gull or Conger Eel. Today, indeed there are such fierce fish in the river Thames[1]. It’s a good sign of how much this major tidal river has been cleaned up over numerous decades.
I don’t need to say that; British rivers were in an alarming state before Britain joined the EU. Concerted environmental action[2] across Europe has improved the situation markedly even though problems remain. The Thames clean-up campaign has been an internationally success. This most British of estuaries supports over 120 species of fish, is a key nursery ground and plays a big part in supporting North Sea fish stocks. I don’t know what the protesters think is going to happen if Britain leaves the EU. The management of fish stocks will continue to be a complex issue that no one Country can monopolise.
Brexiteers will betray the fishing industry. Brexiteers will betray the framers. Brexiteers will betray every single British subject (or citizen). Its just a matter of time. Doesn’t matter if its March 2019 or 21 months later the betrayal is inevitable.
It isn’t dead fish we should be picturing but the dead parrot[3] of Brexit.
[1] http://thames-explorer.org.uk/knowledge-base/wildlife/forna/fish/
[2] http://ec.europa.eu/environment/basics/health-wellbeing/clean-water/index_en.htm
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Parrot_sketch
John Vincent 
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