London, UK: Seafood companies have sent their lorries to Westminster as part of a protest against the red tape and delays involved in exporting fish as a result of Brexit.
Up to 20 vehicles descended on roads near 10 Downing Street in response to the issues they have faced in exporting seafood to the EU.
Trucks carried a range of messages, including: “Incompetent government destroying the seafood industry”.
Many British fishermen have been unable to export their stocks since the beginning of January after the introduction of catch certificates, health checks and customs declarations have meant lengthy delays getting into the EU.
A spokesperson for DR Collin & Son, which was taking part in the protest, said: “We have been asked to take part in a peaceful protest with another 20-plus shellfish exporters from around the whole of the UK in connection with the current difficulties that the seafood industry is facing due to the new Brexit regulations.
“The industry is being tied in knots with paperwork requirements which would be easy enough to navigate, given that companies have put in the time and training in order to have all the relevant procedures in place for 1st January 2021.
“However, all the training is going to waste as the technology is outdated and cannot cope with the demands being placed on it – which in turn is resulting in no produce being able to leave the UK.
“These are not ‘teething issues’ as reported by the government, and the consequences of these problems will be catastrophic on the lives of fishermen, fishing towns and the shellfish industry as a whole.”
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that 14 people had been issued with fines for breaching Covid restrictions.
Prime minister Boris Johnson is said to be preparing a new package to compensate fishermen for red tape losses.
