According to an expert, French fishermen could be forced to pay to fish in British waters after Brexit.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson could bill the French President Emmanuel Macron millions each year for fishermen who want access to our waters.
A deal over fisheries could be struck between Johnson and Macron, but only if the French President backs down on his demands.
The BBC’s business editor, Simon Jack told BBC Dateline, “Fishing is 0.1% of the UK GDP. It is a tenth of 1% so banking is a hundred times more important than that.
“But it also speaks to our identity as an island nation. We have historical memories of the cod wars, of clashing boats in the Channel.
“When I’ve talked to fishermen and the British fishing industry, they said they don’t want it all. The truth is, they can’t catch it all, the fleet isn’t big enough.
“What they want is a slightly better deal and I think there is a deal here to be done.”
Jack added, “It may involve French fishermen having to pay some sort of fee to the UK or the French government compensating the UK, but this is a good old-fashioned haggle.
“There is clearly a deal to be done. After all, 75% of UK fish is sold in EU markets.
“I think the level-playing field and state aid are much more difficult to sort out than this.”
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