London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Scottish salmon industry urges ministers to act over Dover delays

Scottish salmon industry urges ministers to act over Dover delays

Action urged over Brexit-related delays of up to 48 hours caused by queues on the UK side of Channel
The Scottish salmon industry has called on ministers to urgently intervene to stop Brexit-related delays to the transportation of fresh fish to France.

It comes after the Brexit opportunities minister, Jacob Rees-Mogg, admitted he was wrong to say there would be no delays at the port of Dover caused by the UK leaving the EU.

Tavish Scott, chief executive of trade body Scottish Salmon, held a meeting with the fisheries minister Victoria Prentis on Tuesday morning after fish became stuck in the gridlock on Kent roads a fortnight ago.

“Fresh salmon from Scotland will normally arrive in France the following morning, but in recent weeks there have been delays of up to 48 hours due to queues on the UK side of the Channel – and there are concerns of repeat problems,” the organisation said in a statement.

Normally fresh salmon would be available to the chefs in France, the biggest market, within three days of harvesting. But the industry says the past two weeks have seen days when it has been unable to get fish into France at all.

Before Brexit, hauliers could transport their product across the Channel without any checks.

Now all food has to be accompanied by customs and health and safety documentation, with fish directed to Boulogne-sur-Mer, near Calais, where mandatory controls, including checking veterinary certificates, are conducted.

A spokesman for Scottish Salmon said the fishing industry model was selling fresh fish on “day one for consumption on day three”.

But the delays on the Kent roads have meant delays of up to four days – and sometimes the loss of entire sales.

“We had one day where we could not get any fresh into France at all,” the spokesman added. “These are perishable products. Unlike a tin of beans they cannot be sitting in a queue on the back of a truck.

“The impacts of the border controls were identified, mitigation measures were identified but for some reason the government has decided not to implement them.”

The industry is calling on the government to put short-term measures in place to triage haulage, enabling refrigerated trucks with perishable goods to be prioritised in the event of future gridlock on the Kent roads.

But it also wants a longer-term solution put in place.

“Fresh Scottish salmon is perishable and needs to arrive with customers as quickly as possible,” said Scott. “Following today’s constructive meeting, we are hopeful of swift action.”

France is the top market for the fish, where it holds prestigious status with chefs and restaurants.

“The concern is that if the government don’t do something about this, our customers will just go to Norway, where they can guarantee the supply chain,” said the spokesman.

Generating more than £600m in sales, Scottish salmon is the UK’s single biggest food export.

The industry is at a disadvantage to Norway, which has access to the single market as it is a member of the European Economic Area, an option rejected by the British government.

The industry is also facing the threat of a trade war with some speculating the EU will target iconic exports such as salmon in event the new prime minister acts on the threat to tear up the Northern Ireland Brexit arrangements.

The Department for Farming, Environment and Rural Affairs has been approached for comment.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×