Fishermen in Weymouth and Portland have raised concerns that the government’s plan to gain back control of the country’s waters will be used as a ‘bargaining chip’ in Brexit talks.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove has announced that the UK would leave the London Fisheries Convention, which allows Irish, Dutch, French, German and Belgian vessels to fish within six and 12 nautical miles of the coastline.

However, there are fears the announcement is simply a way for ministers to bargain with the EU in Brexit talks, leaving individual fishermen neglected.

Andy Alcock, secretary of the Weymouth and Portland Licensed Fishermen’s and Boatmen’s Association, said: “Fishermen risk their lives every day to get fish and they get nothing, we have to go to sea every day to make money.

“They [the government] will use it to get to the single market. Most of the fishermen feel the same way, they’ve never looked after the fishermen in this industry.

“If we can maintain it and keep it then it would be a good thing for the industry and it would mean a sustainable future for fishermen and their children. We will benefit from it only if they stick to their word and foreign vessels keep out.

“They need to stop building huge industrial boats. Seventy per cent of all our boats in the UK are under 10 metres, and they are only allowed to catch three per cent of the fish. When the huge boats have taken all the fish, the men in their small boats are left with nothing.”

The London Fisheries Convention lies alongside the EU Common Fisheries Policy, which allows all European Union countries access between 12 and 200 nautical miles of the UK. The future of the policy is uncertain, and Mr Alcock feels this could lead to a betrayal of local fishermen. 

Speaking as chairman of the harbour management board at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, Cllr Ian Bruce felt more positive about the announcement.

He said: “Most of our fishermen are within the 12-mile line and they will be very pleased that we will be taking our waters back. 

“Larger fishing vessels scoop up what we would like to keep for the local industry. At the council, we have been looking at Brexit generally and how it would affect the fishing industry. 

“There’s so much negativity about leaving the EU, and what we are trying to do is make decisions that are better for our own industry rather than keeping to EU rules.”