British fishing leaders have expressed fury over reports that Sir Keir Starmer's Government is planning to grant European boats greater access to UK waters.
Industry representatives warn the Prime Minister will be "selling the industry down the river" if a new post-Brexit deal fails to deliver benefits for British fisheries.
The Government is reportedly close to finalising a major trade agreement with the EU that would boost Britain's defence industry in exchange for concessions on fishing rights.
Fishing organisations have described the potential move as a "craven capitulation" to EU demands.
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Under the reported deal, British firms would be allowed to bid for the EU's £129billion defence fund after UK negotiators made "significant concessions" on fishing rights.
The agreement would reportedly grant the EU a long-term deal on fish access and would freeze fishing quotas at current levels rather than reducing them further.
The 2020 post-Brexit deal gave European vessels the ability to fish in UK waters up to six miles from shore, with the arrangement fixed for five years before annual renegotiations.
European nations, particularly France, have sought longer-term stability for their fishing fleets.
Elspeth Macdonald, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, called it "ludicrous" for the UK to "cave in to French demands for a multi-year fisheries deal with fixed quotas."
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The agreement would reportedly grant the EU a long-term deal on fish access
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She told The i: "Sir Keir Starmer looks set to become the third Prime Minister to sell out the fishing industry."
"This craven capitulation will be deeply unpopular right across the country," Macdonald added.
Mike Cohen of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations warned: "If a deal is done and fishing doesn't benefit from this, then people will be furious."
Fishing leaders have pushed back against comparisons between the defence and fishing industries based solely on economic value.
"We're not talking about a handful of really big businesses with huge foreign shareholders. We're talking about a lot of small local businesses that are often the main source of employment in a small community," said Cohen.
Nick Howell, commissioner of Newlyn Harbour in Cornwall, noted that while catches at his harbour would generate around £40million this year, the overall contribution from the Cornish fishing industry was closer to £174million.
The 2020 post-Brexit deal gave European vessels the ability to fish in UK waters up to six miles from shore, with the arrangement fixed for five years before annual renegotiations
GETTY"We're all very cynical about [the negotiations], because they don't care," he added.
A Government spokesman insisted: "No agreements have been reached and we have always been clear we will protect the interests of our fisheries."
Should the deal fail to deliver for British fishing, it would represent another blow for an industry promised renewal under Brexit.
Fishermen in Peterhead told reporters they felt "betrayed" by Brexit promises.
James Stephen, a fisherman with 44 years' experience, said: "If they get better access to fishing waters than they've got now, you might as well sell the UK fishing industry."
"The industry is so tight... It can't take any more pain."
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