EXTENDING the transition period for the UK leaving the EU could be a double-edged sword for the fishing industry.

While the white fish sector fears it increases the chances of being sailed down the river in negotiations, the creel fishing and hand diving industry believes it could help the sector stay afloat.

“Another year gives us more breathing space to convince Whitehall that they are in danger of destroying the work of people in coastal communities around Scotland,” said Alistair Sinclair, national co-ordinator of the Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation.

“A hard Brexit could bring the demise of the inshore fleet. We are low impact and high value but we could be facing meltdown after Brexit if it means extra veterinary checks at ports. The bulk of our product is live in tanks and time is of the essence. If there are delays of even three or four hours it will destroy our industry.

“At the moment we have a very slick system in place. If the system fails due to delays, a whole catch can be lost and there is no point in us fishing unless we have markets.”

Reports yesterday suggested that Scots Tory MPs were planning to vote down the Chancellor’s forthcoming Budget if the UK Government “betrayed” Scotland by including fishing rights in any extended negotiations.

However there are fears in the white fish sector that an extension will mean their interests will be sold out.

“The longer it goes on, the chances are the industry could be used as negotiating capital,” said Mike Park, chief executive of the Scottish White Fish Producers’ Association.

“What we want is to come out and be a coastal state with complete control over access to our waters so we can sit down and negotiate with other countries their share of stocks.

Park said under the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, the fixed share that the UK was given was not enough. “The UK currently has 36% of the shell fish and fish in its waters and the other 64% is removed by the EU.

“If you look at Norway it has 85% and Iceland has 90%. What we are asking for is something in between.

“At the end of the day the EU is going to fight hard to maintain their current share but if they are catching all their quota in our waters there is a good deal to be done. If they don’t have access there is no sense in having all that quota.”