Fishing for Leave, a group formed to “highlight the potential of UK fisheries”, expressed outrage over recent EU decision-making. The bloc, which will see the UK depart as a member at the end of the month, has stipulated that Britain roll over current Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) access and quota shares. Aaron Brown, from Fishing for Leave, expressed his anger at the lack of criticism by the government.

He also ripped into the “false narrative” created by the EU to say it is a fait accompli to sacrifice fishing in any future UK deal.

He said: “The EU’s threats are absolutely hollow brinkmanship.

“70 percent of UK catches going to the continent means the EU is desperately dependent on UK seafood exports – it is a staple of southern Europe’s diet.

“The EU fleet is automatically out and we repatriate our resources as per international law if there is no agreement on fisheries – we don’t need to negotiate anything.”

Mr Brown was also incensed by “unfair” quota shares, which he claimed sees Britain contribute 50 percent of waters and 60 percent of catches but only 25 percent of quotas.

He added: “The EU is heavily reliant on UK financial services and the city of London is a global powerhouse that can also diverge and divest into other markets.”

Fishing for Leave said the industry was being made “jittery” as the government, in their opinion, has seemingly appeased the European Union.

Mr Brown continued: “It’s all very well re-deploying Mrs May’s worn out words of saying ‘we will take back control and be an independent coastal state’…but if we sign up to roll over current access and quotas along with surrendering to the Political Declaration in terms of regulatory alignment through a level playing field, then it is independence in name only.”

Fishing for Leave has gone on to lay out their demands of the government.

They have stated any fisheries agreement should be on an annual basis, with access and quota shares agreed once the UK receives an equal value of fishing opportunities.

The group are also lobbying for “complete freedom” from the controversial Common Fisheries Policy.

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They state this will enable them to have “exclusive sovereignty over all our waters and resources as per international law”.

Mr Brown concluded: “We appeal to Boris and his team to realise there is a hell of a lot more riding on fishing than fishermen, finance or economics.

“If there is a second deliberate sacrifice of British fishing, which is totemic in the public’s mind, it will hammer and haunt the Conservatives more than Ted Heath.”

John Anderson, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Organisation, however, did not seem to be apprehensive, echoing Fishing for Leave’s optimism on Brexit.

He said: “From a business viewpoint, Brexit should bring considerable economic benefit to the Scottish fishing industry and wider economy, particularly in our coastal communities.

“We will automatically become a Coastal State and assume control of the fisheries resources within the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

“This will be a real game changer because our ability to control access to our EEZ is key to achieving fairer shares of our rich seafood resources.”

One senior European diplomat recently stated the UK would have to “compromise” on access for EU fishing fleets.

And Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar warned the UK “may have to make concessions” on fishing to secure a deal.

Fishing for Leave was founded to campaign for UK withdrawal from the European Union.

The organisation states its main objectives are to “regain control” and “repatriate the majority of British fisheries resources when no other industry body would speak on this vital decision.”

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