Outrage as EU Boats Haul UK Fish Without Checks — Fishermen Say Brexit Promises Broken

British fishermen are up in arms after revealing that EU vessels are loading up hundreds of tonnes of UK-caught fish and whisking it away in lorries bound for Europe—without any checks or inspections. According to whistle-blowers in Scotland, this isn’t a one-off, but something that’s been happening regularly and in plain sight.

Just this past weekend, the Antonio Maria, a French-registered boat, was spotted unloading a whopping 50 tonnes of fish into a refrigerated lorry in just three hours. No fishing authorities were present, no quotas were checked, and no one was around to confirm what species were being taken. One local fisherman who witnessed the scene told GB News and Facts4EU: “I tried to speak with the lorry driver… he said, ‘I do not speak English sorry.’ So they have been told not to speak about their loads, obviously.”

That same morning, another EU vessel, Brisca, docked at Scrabster port and repeated the process—tonnes of fish loaded straight into lorries, again without inspection. The fisherman said this isn’t rare at all: “This is nae unusual. The same’s happening all over, not only here.”

He’s been documenting this for years and says it’s deeply frustrating that British waters are being “plundered” while UK fishers play by the rules. Complaints have been made, but responses from authorities have done little to reassure. The Marine Directorate Scotland simply said: “Exports of fish landed into the UK are strictly controlled,” and insisted they’re trying to improve cooperation with other countries to avoid illegal or unregulated fishing, told GB News.

But British fishermen say they’re left hoping EU boats are sticking to the rules—something many of them seriously doubt. The concern is not just about quotas, but also the risk of damaging protected marine species and fragile seabeds.

The practice of loading directly into containers—called “quasi-transhipping”—is a growing concern. According to a UN report, it’s happening more often, especially in the northeastern Atlantic, which includes Scotland. And because these catches pass through ports without inspections, authorities have no idea what’s really being shipped out.

It’s another bitter pill for Brexiteers who believed leaving the EU would hand back control of British waters. As Boris Johnson once promised: “We will take back 100% control of the spectacular marine wealth of this country.” But nearly five years on, EU boats are still fishing UK seas with minimal oversight—and even linking access to defense deals, as Brussels reportedly pressures Britain to offer fishing concessions in exchange for a slice of a €150bn defense fund. For many UK fishermen, it’s starting to feel like Brexit hasn’t changed much at all.