[kreykjalin]

No, it’s a very real threat. Icelandic waters can only be fished by Icelandic vessels. That’s what the cod wars were about; protecting our right to be the only ones to fish our waters.

If we join the EU we’re pretty much guaranteed to lose this exclusive access to our waters, and that will be devastating for the economy, given how the fishing industry is one of very few industries keeping the economy afloat. Especially considering exports to other countries.

[chgs]

A high profile campaign during Brexit was about U.K. fishing. U.K. fishing rights were sold by local fishermen to large multinational companies who are more economically efficient (at least in the short term - sustainability is a bad word) many years ago.

Unlike Iceland, fishing is a negligible part of the U.K. economy (c0.1% vs c10%), yet was used by people who couldn’t give a stuff about fishing as a weapon.

[throwaway2037]

Have there been any studies on the effect upon local fishing industry when a country joins the EU? I bet that ECB has some studies about it. I could only find this admittedly weak article: https://ireland.representation.ec.europa.eu/news-and-events/...

As I understand, part of the reason that Norway wanted to stay out of the EU was to fully control fishing in their territorial waters. I can understand why Iceland may wish to do the same.

[Swenrekcah]

Access to fishing and the quota system will definitely be one of if not the most important items to sort out, but it will not be devastating for the Icelandic economy if a portion of the quota is allocated to other EU members.

[MrDresden]

" but it will not be devastating for the Icelandic economy if a portion of the quota is allocated to other EU members."

I don't think you realise how small the Icelandic economy truly is, and how big an effect fluctuations in fishing quote already have on it.

[blibble]

exceptions to the "acquis" have not once been made to new members

you accept the entire body of law or you don't join

the UK and Norway both tried to negotiate away the fisheries policy when they submitted applications in the 70s

the UK "accepted" the CFP and and joined, Norway didn't and still remains outside

given then the odds of Iceland joining the EU are practically zero