The Scottish Conservatives’ newly appointed Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy, Jamie Halcro Johnston, has joined Scottish fishing leaders in welcoming the entry into law of the Fisheries Act.

The new Act gives the UK full control of its fishing waters for the first time since 1973, removing EU vessels’ automatic access right to fish in UK waters.

Mr Halcro Johnston, a Highlands and Islands MSP, said the Act would be welcomed in coastal communities across his region.

He said “For too many years, our fishing industry has played second fiddle with most of the fish from our territorial waters being landed by foreign-owned vessels.

“The new Fisheries Act provides us with an opportunity to rebuild our fishing fleet, revitalise our coastal communities and create well-paid jobs for local people.

“It also ensures the Devolved Administrations have greater fisheries management powers, allowing them to move away from the unpopular Common Fisheries Policy. That’s surely something even the SNP must welcome.

“This is important milestone legislation and, along with the UK Government’s proposals for a network of freeports, promises to unlock the economic potential of our coastal communities”.

More on the Fisheries Act here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/flagship-fisheries-bill-becomes-law