Navy boats on standby to protect UK waters as Brexit deadline looms

Britain readies naval warships to patrol its fishing waters, as UK and EU ratchet up no-deal planning, hours before treaty deadline.

Hours before a self-imposed deadline to strike a last gasp trade treaty, Britain prepares naval warships to patrol UK fishing waters in case of a “no-deal” Brexit.

Britain was preparing naval warships to patrol the Channel to protect its fishing trawlers and prime minister Boris Johnson had a slight dig at his French counterpart during a Climate Ambition Summit as a no-deal Brexit looms ever likely.

Two additional Royal Navy patrol ships are commissioned for duty from January 1 when the transition period of Brexit will end, specifically to protect British fishing rights. Another two will be on standby in port to assist if the battle of the cod escalates. Four Royal Navy ships are already on patrol in British waters assisting with illegal migrants who attempt to cross the Channel.

With just hours before a self-imposed deadline to strike a last gasp trade treaty, and overcome three significant sticking points of fishing rights, level playing field provisions and judicial oversight of breaches, both the United Kingdom and European countries have ratcheted their no-deal planning.

Royal Navy and RAF preparing to defend sovereign British waters from French/EU fishing vessels as seen by MSM. pic.twitter.com/3yLXcESO7I

— Dominic Farrell (@DominicFarrell) December 12, 2020

The UK has launched Operation Capstone to test planning scenarios of data transfer, capture of illegal fishing boats, disruption at the ports and border issues. As well it has been reported in the British press that Whitehall is looking at providing around £10bn in resilience funding to sectors hardest hit with a no deal - fishing, automotive, farming and agriculture and chemical suppliers.

On Saturday afternoon, a Mr Johnson co-hosted the climate summit with French president Emmanuel Macron, extracting fresh climate change ambitions from countries around the world, slyly noting: ‘’my co-host Emmanuel Macron who I know shares my keen interest in protecting the ecosystems of our seas and oceans’’.

Fantastic to see 75 nations coming together to pledge #ClimateAction today. Ultimately, our ability to protect our planet will come not from timidity or caution - but decisive ambition from all.

Looking forward to driving this forward ahead of @COP26 next year. pic.twitter.com/8oUnlHIujx

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 12, 2020

Earlier at the end of a virtual meeting of EU leaders, the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said: “We understand that the UK aspires to control its waters. The UK must, on the other hand, understand the legitimate expectations of EU fishing fleets built on decades and sometimes centuries of access.”

At the moment EU trawlers take more than 60% of the catch from the UK waters, and the issue is complicated further because many UK fishing boats have been bought by companies registered in the EU.

But the UK says its fishing waters will be limited to boats owned by UK companies.

The EU has proposed contingency measures of one year extension to discuss the fishing rights issue, but in return for only six months of continued transport access allowing the Eurostar and planes to access European airspace and ‘’connectivity’’.

This was roundly dismissed by Mr Johnson. He will meet with Mrs Von Der Leyen on Monday after the Sunday deadline is expected to expire to formulate the next steps to the no-deal Brexit on January 1.

Conservative MP’s have been split on the naval deployment, cautioning a military response to any mid-Channel tussle over fish. But others say impounding an illegal EU fishing vessel or two would send a clear message to the EU to stay out.

Sir Alan West, a former admiral and chief of naval staff, told the BBC:“It is absolutely appropriate that the Royal Navy should protect our waters if the position is that we are a sovereign state and our government has said we don’t want other nations there’’.

But in France, fishermen were concerned not just with losing access, but to the raiding of their fish stocks by eight huge Dutch fishing trawlers which would divert to French waters in a no-deal Brexit. These super-trawlers hoover up 200 tonnes of fish a night.

French fishing council head Olivier Le Prêtre told the UK Telegraph that the small French boats which catch the majority of their fish in British waters will be overrun by the Dutch and Belgian fishing boats. He said the Dutch were ‘’exterminating’’ the fish.

Meanwhile the Climate Ambition Summit saw 15 countries such as Argentina, Barbados, Canada, Colombia, Iceland, and Peru commit to major increases in reducing carbon emissions.

Australia did not participate make any fresh commitments.

The Summit, held on the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, was a forerunner to the UN climate conference COP26 in Glasgow next November.

The #ClimateAmbitionSummit to mark the 5th anniversary of the #ParisAgreement has shown a new surge in action and ambition on the road to the @UN Climate Conference #COP26 in Glasgow next year.

PRESS RELEASE WITH KEY OUTCOMES: https://t.co/5ansqT4oQe pic.twitter.com/ynQcclf3YL

— UN Climate Change (@UNFCCC) December 12, 2020

With 75 leaders outlining new commitments at the Summit, it means countries representing around 65% of global CO2 emissions, and around 70% of the world’s economy, will have committed by early next year to reaching net zero emissions or carbon neutrality, summit leaders said.

The UK has committed to cut emissions by at least 68 per cent by 2030 and to end support for the fossil fuel sector overseas. The EU has a new target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030.