THE SNP has called on the Tory Fisheries Minister to resign after admitting that she had not fully read the details of the Brexit deal on fisheries because she was “very busy organising the local Nativity trail”.

Giving evidence at a House of Lords committee earlier today, Victoria Prentis admitted “things are tricky at the moment” but said her team is “working hard” to resolve issues.

She also said the UK "didn’t get everything we asked for" in the Brexit deal.

Dr Philippa Whitford, the SNP's Shadow Brexit spokesperson, described Prentis' comment as "unbelievable".

She added: “Due to Brexit-induced bureaucracy, Scotland's fishing communities are already experiencing severe disruption and cannot get their produce to their customers in the EU market on time. Having already lost thousands of pounds in discarded seafood, many boats in my constituency are now tied up in the harbour.

“For the Tory government's Fisheries Minister to then admit that she did not even bother to read the details of the damaging deal because she was too busy is unbelievable and makes her position untenable."

Analysis from the Scottish Government found that the UK government's Brexit deal will result in a fall in the quantity of key fishing stocks landed, such as cod, haddock, whiting and saithe.

The deal means that the Scottish fishing industry will have access to fewer fishing opportunities than under the existing Common Fisheries Policy arrangements – even at the end of the five and a half year adjustment period.

Whitford, who represents Central Ayrshire, added: “After all their extravagant Brexit promises, the Tories have betrayed our fishing communities and are yet again treating the Scottish fishing industry as expendable.

"It is beyond any doubt that the Tory Minister cannot continue in her role and must resign.

She went on: "With each day that passes we are hearing testimonies from skippers, exporters, producers and local fishing communities about the devastating impact Brexit is already having on the sector.

"These hard-working businesses deserve better than this. "It's clear that the only way to properly protect our interests and industries is to become an independent country and part of the EU - with a seat at the table championing all our fishing interests."

Trade insurance group Euler Hermes Group SAS says Brexit may cost UK exporters £25 billion this year as demand weakens and red tape remains, cutting 1.1% from gross domestic product.

It comes as Ian Blackford, the SNP's Westminster leader, told the Commons that “Brexit red tape” was causing fresh and high quality produce to be lost.

He told the PMQs: “My constituent in Lochaber, a producer and exporter of shellfish, is experiencing his worst nightmare. After loading a lorry of fresh local seafood on Monday, as he’s done for 35 years, his driver faced bureaucracy and delays.

“Brexit red tape now means that £40,000 of his fresh, high quality produce is lost, unable to be sold. That £40,000 produce is income for over 100 local families in many remote and fragile communities.

“Can the Prime Minister tell my constituent where is the sea of opportunity that he and his Scottish Tories promised?”

Boris Johnson responded: “Well, we’re putting £100 million into supporting the fishing industry in Scotland and across the whole of the UK.

“It is the policy of the Scottish nationalist party not just to break up the United Kingdom under their hare-brained scheme, but also to take Scotland back into the EU and hand back control of Scottish fisheries to Brussels, thereby throwing away all those opportunities.”

READ MORE: Boris Johnson responds to Ian Blackford's Brexit question with indyref2 rant

Earlier this week Frencg traders hit out at delays on consignments of Scottish fish imports as crews sail for Denmark, not Scotland, amidst Brexit chaos.

Road hauliers were moving small quantities yesterday but some firms continue to refuse groupage deliveries of multiple products in one load as form fails stop trucks from reaching their destinations.

Delays and cancellations have cost firms significant amounts of money and hit the fishing sector hard, with prices for premium Scottish goods tanking and boats left tied up at harbour as custom dries up.

READ MORE: French buyers hit out and Scottish fish prices plunge over export Brexit chaos

While demand is still there, customers in France, Spain and other key continental markets have told Scots firms they can’t wait for the goods.

Approximately one third of the country’s fleet is tied up at harbour, according to Scotland Food and Drink chief executive officer James Withers, who said some boats “are now landing in Denmark, not Scotland” in a bid to avoid the bureaucratic net.

Prices were down up to 80% at Peterhead market on Monday, with some fish that normally go for up to £60 a box fetching just £8 in what has been dubbed “withdrawal prices”.

One French fish processor, JP Maree, said it had to seek monkfish from Norway and Denmark instead of the UK, while seafood wholesaler Demarne Freres said it has “never seen such delays” and called the situation “apocalyptic”.

Stephane Pruvost of JP Maree said: “When you have fewer sellers, there’s less choice on price, and sometimes quality. For now we’ve no other choice.”