Almost nine out of 10 Scots believe the UK should definitively control which vessels fish in its waters, a stark new poll shows.
And more than 80% think the European Union fleet should not be granted continued access to UK fishing grounds without tangible benefits being returned to Scottish skippers and crew.
The poll, commissioned by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) and conducted by research specialists Opinion Matters, comes as pressure mounts over future negotiations on fishing access with the EU.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to host a UK-EU Summit on 19th May in London, with fishing a high priority for the EU due to its disproportionate dependence on UK waters.
EU vessels catch £450-£500 million worth of fish annually in UK waters, compared with £75 million caught by UK vessels in EU waters.
The poll reveals that 87% of people believe the UK should have full powers over which fleets fish in the UK EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone), with just 3.2% disagreeing.
Among younger voters aged 16-24, support for total UK control of fishing stands at 71%, rising to an overwhelming 93% among those aged 55 and over. Backing is strong throughout the country with 91% of respondents from the Highlands and Islands agreeing the UK should control its waters, alongside strong support in South Scotland (91%), Lothian (89%) and in the North East (86%).
Elspeth Macdonald, Chief Executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, said: “These results send a strong signal to negotiators in Westminster and Brussels. The Scottish public are crystal clear – our fishing industry must not be sold short again.
“During the last negotiations, access to our waters was given away too freely and we saw precious little in return. That cannot happen again.
“This poll confirms that Scots understand the value of fishing to our economy, our coastal communities and our national food security – and they expect their governments to stand up for those interests.”
The survey further revealed that 86% of Scots think any future UK-EU fisheries deal should place Scotland’s fishing interests at its heart – a striking endorsement of the sector’s strategic importance.
This includes a commanding 92% among the over-55s, 91% in the Highlands and Islands and 86% in the North East. Even among younger Scots aged 16-24, who are often perceived as more Eurocentric, 65% believe Scotland’s fishing industry should be prioritised in any future UK-EU agreement.
Support for demanding clear benefits in exchange for EU access is particularly strong among those aged 55 and over, with nine in 10 people agreeing – including 65% who “strongly agree”, while 62% of 16-24-year-olds also back the idea.
Regional sentiment is equally robust. Agreement peaks at 91% among respondents in the Highlands and Islands, closely followed by Mid Scotland and Fife (89%) and the North East (84%). Even in Central Scotland, Glasgow and Lothian, agreement remains strong at 84%, 83% and 81% respectively.
Scotland’s fishing industry lands around two-thirds all fish and shellfish caught in the UK each year, making it the UK’s powerhouse of seafood production.
It supports thousands of livelihoods across the country and forms the backbone of many coastal towns and villages.
Despite this, the sector has too often been sidelined in previous deals – particularly during the Brexit transition, where insufficient gains in fishing opportunities were made in exchange for the EU securing multi-year access to Scottish and UK fishing grounds.
Ms Macdonald added: “We’ve long argued that the EU must follow through on the Treaty that it signed in 2020 – that after 2026, access to waters becomes part of the annual negotiations on fisheries between the UK and EU.
“Annual negotiations on access are the international norm, and SFF fully supports and favours this approach. The EU signed up to this, but with the clock now ticking and the prospect of their fleet being unable to catch their quotas in their own waters after 2026, they are reneging on their Treaty obligations and insisting on another multi-year deal.
“If the UK Government is minded to capitulate to the EU’s demands on another multi-year deal on access for their fishing fleet; then they must extract a proportionate payment in commercially valuable fishing opportunities for our fleet in return, and this poll now shows that the Scottish public overwhelmingly agrees.
“If EU member states want to keep benefiting from our rich fishing grounds, then that access must deliver clear and lasting benefits to Scotland’s industry. It’s now up to policymakers to act accordingly.”
The findings have been released as part of the SFF’s wider efforts to ensure that fishing is not only protected in future trade deals, but actively championed as a vital sector with significant potential for sustainable growth.
The organisation argues that any future multi-year access agreement must be constructed with the long-term prosperity of Scotland’s fishing industry in mind.
Opinion Matters surveyed 1,010 adults in Scotland between 1-5 April 2025. To find out more about the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, visit: https://www.sff.co.uk
