A Parliamentary Committee has said Britain’s fishing industry will need to maintain close ties with Europe – and may have to allow European fleets greater access to British waters than our fishermen might want as a price for access to the single market.

Fishing communities in Cornwall voted heavily in favour of Brexit, with the EU blamed for a long-term decline in the industry.

But the House of Lords EU Committee says the Government should try to keep low- or no-tariff trade with the EU because with 66% of UK fish exports go to Europe.

And the industry should not discard elements of the controversial Common Fisheries Policy which have helped maintain stocks and prevent over-fishing, said the report.

Lord Teverson, the former Plymouth and Cornwall Liberal Democrat MEP who is chairman of the Lords EU Energy and the Environment Sub-Committee, said fishing communities must be consulted during Brexit trade negotiations.