Nicola Sturgeon warned over '˜turning back' on fishing fleet

The First Minister has been warned over creating an EU deal for Scotland. Picture: Neil Hanna

Nicola Sturgeon is being warned against 'turning her back' on Scotland's fishing communities by seeking to halt Brexit north of the Border.

The fishing industry has been celebrating the outcome of the referendum as skippers believe it means policy can be set at home and spell the end to Spanish and French trawlers taking advantage of Scotland’s vast fishing waters.

This could be scuppered if the SNP government secures a deal to keep Scotland in the EU which Ms Sturgeon is seeking to do after Scots voted by 62 per cent to 38 per cent in favour of remaining in Europe.

The concerns were spelled out by fishing leaders as they held crunch talks with rural affairs secretary Fergus Ewing yesterday.

Speaking beforehand, Mike Park of the Scottish White Fish Producers Association said the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy has been an “abject disaster” for the Scottish fleet. “You just have to look at the communities to see the result of that disaster,” he added.

“It would be kind of rich, I think, if the First Minister, if Scotland turned its back on its fishing community just like Heath did.”

Tory prime minister Ted Heath took the UK into the then European Economic Community in 1973. Mr Park warned the forthcoming Landings Obligation could effectively “shut down” the Scottish fleet.

Mr Ewing pledged to work to get the “best deal” for Scotland’s fishermen despite their concerns.