Chip shops warn of major fish shortages after Brexit

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage eats fish and chips in Whitehaven - Credit: Getty Images

Chip shops in the United Kingdom could suffer from a major fish shortage if the government does not secure a Brexit deal with Greenland, the industry has warned.

Around 10% of all fish supplied to England comes from self-governing Danish territory waters as a result of existing EU agreements, the National Federation of Fish Friers, which represents chip shops, has claimed.

Its president Andrew Crook has said that a post-Brexit trade deal with Greenland was crucial for saving one of the UK’s most popular meals, because quality Arctic fish cannot be easily replaced.

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Crook said without an agreement in place in the coming weeks the industry will be forced to turn to countries who will be “having us over a barrel on prices”, and warned around 2,000 jobs would be at threat.

“The British fleet cannot be expected to catch all the fish we need. Greenland’s fish is a premium product and supplies some 10% of fish to the south of England,” he told the Sun.

“We must not let a deal slip through the net.”

Greenland’s ministers have previously indicated that they are keen to retain tariff-free export access to the UK after Brexit.