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The Royal Navy will roll-out several new armed patrols on the day Britain leaves the EU, according to George Eustice, a minister at DEFRA, who confirmed the plans were now in place. Speaking to the House of Lords' EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee, Mr Eustice said enforcement of sovereignty over British waters will be ready to go on March 29, 2019. He said that discussions with the Marine Management Organisation are currently looking at whether the £350m invested in five navy ships is sufficient to cope with Brexit. Several European countries have suggested that they may use "historic ties" to the British waters to continue fishing there, despite Royal Navy warnings.

GETTY The Royal Navy will roll-out several new armed patrols on the day Britain leaves the EU

Mr Eustice explained: "We are ensuring we have the capacities we need on the day we leave the EU. "We are speaking to the MOD about the fisheries protection unit and what additional capacity many be required there. "We will need more vessels, particularly when boarding fishing ships. "But also, we can do a lot with technology, including remote vessels monitoring, satillite technology, drone technology, to ensure the boats are where they should be." The new squadron of armed patrols will secure Britain's fishery limits, an area that covers over 80,000 square miles of sea and stretches up to 200 miles from the coastline. Last year, Michael Gove said armed patrol squadrons could be used to deter foreign trawlers. One of the boats, HMS Forth, which has already passed sea trials, is equipped with machine guns and a helicopter. Long-range drones and satellite technology will also be used to detect any vessel straying into UK waters.

GETTY Eustice said enforcement of sovereignty over British waters will be ready to go on March 29, 2019

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We will need more vessels, particularly when boarding fishing ships. George Eustice