Image source, Getty Images

Alastair McNeil from the West Coast Regional Inshore Fisheries Group explains he represents lots of one-man boats and there is significant concern about how certification and delays will impact them.

One solution would be to diversify but many of them cannot do this because they cannot get quota, he warns.

Elaine Whyte says accessing markets further afield are not as easy as is often made out, adding that that knows of two frozen consignments in China that are about to go off.

She also notes frozen stock is generally not as valuable.

Ivan Bartolo from Seafish says you will have to pay a 20% tariff if you land Scottish mackerel in Europe.

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles asks why are we worried about tariffs if the cost will be the same.

Mike Park explains his vessels would land in Europe if non-tariff barriers cause a detrimental decrease to the price on the market.

Mr Chapman asks how easy it is to shift mackerel to another market.

Jimmy Buchan says EU tariffs would drive mackerel to a better market, however white fish vessels could land in Denmark to an advantage.

Ms Macdonald says she heard in an interview this week that there are as many views on Brexit as there are fish in the sea.

The Scottish Fishermen's Federation representative says there are varying views on the risks and opportunities that Brexit presents.

Scotland's seafood is the best in the world and we should not be drawn in political arguments about markets when people are markets says Jimmy Buchan.

Mr Greene welcomes this statement, highlighting the burgeoning market in China.

Elspeth Macdonald says there is an opportunity to double the amount of fish we can catch.

60% of fish caught in the UK waters are not caught by the UK fleet and the UK fleet only catches 11% of its product in non-UK waters she tells the committee.

This is a chance to address this imbalance, she insists.

Ms Macdonald accepts there is a lot to be worked out post-Brexit but there is also a lot to be achieved.

Image source, bbc

Mike Park from the Scottish White Fish Producers Association says once we're out, it's our waters and we negotiate access to our waters.

"To us it is relatively simple," Mr Park adds.

Mr Park says fisheries negotiations should not be linked to any trade deals.

Professor James Harrison from the University of Edinburgh argues that is not the view of the EU, pointing out the fisheries negotiations are linked to the backstop in Theresa May's deal.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene raises access to waters, both in terms of Scottish vessels accessing EU waters and foreign vessels accessing Scottish waters.

If there is no transition phase or any continuation of the Common Fisheries Policy, where does that leave the sector he asks.

Prof James Harrison explains that as an independent coastal state we will be able to decide who has access to our waters and this will be subject to negotiations.

Scottish vessels access overseas will be linked in such negotiations he adds.

If on 1 November there is no deal, the EU fleet will not have any access to our waters he tells the committee.

Prof Harrison highlights there is an agreement with Norway for reciprocal access until the end of 2019.

Image source, bbc

Calum Duncan from the Marine Conservation Society expresses his concern saying: "Whatever the outcome, we don't want environmental standards to drop."

Mr Duncan points to the Ocean Emergency Report last week which highlighted the loss of resilience of the ocean.

He says the committee must consider urgent planning to tackle this and we need to improve ocean resilience.

Our biggest cause for worry is that low impact fishermen could be out of the job overnight, Alistair Sinclair says.

Mike Park says the non-tariff barriers are a worry, adding it does not take much to trigger an incident like the scallop war.

French and British fishermen clashed in the English Channel in an escalating battle over scallops in August 2018.

Fishing boats collided and stones were thrown, but no-one was injured.

Image source, Getty Images

There is "a lot of uncertainty" about the UK's capacity to patrol fishing waters after a no-deal Brexit, a government memo mistakenly emailed to the BBC has revealed.

The memo, from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, says there are just 12 ships "to monitor a space three times the size of the surface area of the UK".

Meanwhile Michael Gove has said there will be a government support fund to help British businesses in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

• How would Brexit affect fishing waters?
• Why is everyone talking about fishing?
• What is a no-deal Brexit?
• 10 ways no-deal Brexit could affect you
• What is the UK doing to get ready for no deal?
• Read more here

Image source, bbc

Mr Buchan tells the committee that, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, mackerel will be subject to a 20% WTO tariff.

He says this will mean Scotland's processors will not be competitive against Scandinavian companies.

Elaine Whyte from the Clyde Fisherman's Association agrees the lack of environmental health officers is worrying.

She also expresses concern about the impact of Scotland and Northern Ireland facing different tariffs, as it could mean the same product fished in the same areas is available in Northern Ireland without the extra cost.

Image source, bbc

Alistair Sinclair from the Scottish Creel Fishermen's Federation explains time is crucial in terms of the live product.

He warns about the need for five documents for the live product, but adds Defra doesn't know what is going on and warns of two-day delays.

"Talking about the live product, there's many people that will go to the wall."

Elspeth Macdonald says a significant amount of her time since joining the Scottish Fishermen's Federation has been focused on Brexit.

All parts of the chain must benefit from opportunities in the future she states.

However she recognises the challenges no-deal brings, particularly to the processing sector, and says the federation is working with partners to address them.

We are working with both the UK and Scottish government about practical arrangements should there be no deal, Ms Macdonald confirms.

Mr Chapman asks about the impact of a no-deal Brexit.

All my focus is on no-deal until we are told otherwise, replies the Scottish Seafood Association representative.

Mr Buchan explains all the exports will need certification, with each export needing five certificates which will hit small businesses.

All of a sudden there are going to be huge hurdles that small businesses may not be prepared for, he adds.

Mr Buchan calls for support from local authorities and he warns of huge costs to the industry.

Tory MSP Peter Chapman asks about the witnesses involvement in preparations for Brexit.

Jimmy Buchan from the Scottish Seafood Association says he has been very engaged with Scottish government officials and has been engaging with Defra on a weekly basis more recently.

We have been trying to get assurances that fresh seafood will be able to depart the UK without any problems he states.

Logistically it is challenging to get these assurances and written confirmation that what we are doing is enough, because that is not the feeling we are getting from out members he adds.

Image source, Press eye

The Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee, external will shortly take evidence on the implication of Brexit for the fisheries sector in Scotland from:

• Elspeth Macdonald from the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, external
• Alistair Sinclair from the Scottish Creel Fishermen's Federation, external
• Professor James Harrison from the University of Edinburgh, external
• Calum Duncan from the Marine Conservation Society, external
• Jimmy Buchan from the Scottish Seafood Association, external
• Elaine Whyte from the Clyde Fisherman's Association, external
• Mike Park, from the Scottish White Fish Producers Association, external
• Ivan Bartolo from Seafish, external
• Alastair McNeill from the West Coast Regional Inshore Fisheries Group, external

Read the committee papers here., external

Welcome to BBC Scotland's coverage of the Scottish Parliament on 9 October 2019.

Final amendments to the wide-ranging Transport Bill will dominate proceedings at Holyrood today, with the controversial workplace parking levy to the fore of the debate.

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10.30 am: MSPs take evidence on the implications of Brexit for the fisheries sector

1.00 pm: Portfolio Questions: Constitutional relations and then culture, tourism and external affairs

1.40 - 8.00 pm: Stage 3 Consideration of Amendments: Transport (Scotland) Bill

8.00 pm: Members’ Business: Sandra White – Charter of Rights for People with Dementia and their Carers 10th Anniversary