Found: The Fisheries Act 2020 allows the UK to restrict where and how fishing takes place immediately via vessel

Found: For example, The Fisheries Act (2020) Section 3b is incompatible with UN SDG14.

Found: This is essential to meet the ecosystem objective of the Fisheries Act to minimise and where possible

Found: undertaking illegal fishing activities are not subsidised in this way - this is despite the UK Fisheries Act

Found: One of the (few) benefits of Brexit was that the Fisheries Act (2020) extended the MMO’s byelaw making

Found: The UK Fisheries Act includes a commitment to eliminate and minimise the impacts of bycatch, but the

Found: Fisheries Act 2020 s. 57 ‘“the marine and aquatic environment” includes … (b) features of archaeological

Found: take place.GME0045 - Ineffectual time bound targets within pieces of legislation such as the Fisheries Act

Found: of the MACA 2009 byelaw making powers (129A53) provided to the MMO through Schedule 10 of the Fisheries Act

Found: The Fisheries Act 2020 provides the framework to manage our fisheries as an independent coastal state

Found: The Fisheries Act says decisions about the sea should be made taking account of the needs of the environment

Found: The Fisheries Act says decisions about the sea should be made taking account of the needs of the environment

Found: In accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Fisheries Act 2020 (“the Act”), the consultation draft

Found: the Marine and Coastal Access Act, Merchant Shipping Acts, the Environment Act 2021, and the Fisheries act

Found: Section 25 of The Fisheries Act 2020 already offers a framework for more sustainable fishing by allocating

Found: Existing legislation appears to be ignored, with the WFD (UK) and Salmon Fisheries Act both including

Found: In the case of the Fisheries Act 2020, the then Government decided that a PEC was required to provide

Found: The UK Government could deliver the commitments made in the UK Fisheries Act 2020 and the Joint Fisheries

Found: The UK Government could deliver the commitments made in the UK Fisheries Act 2020 and the Joint Fisheries

Found: In accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Fisheries Act 2020 (“the Act”), the consultation draft

Found: Our approach to those negotiations will be guided by the objectives set out in the Fisheries Act 2020

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a timebound legal duty to end overfishing in UK waters.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Fisheries Act 2020 contains a commitment to recover stocks to sustainable levels through the development of Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs). We are taking this approach having learned from the well-intentioned but ultimately unachievable single deadline set out in the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy for getting all fish stocks to “Maximum Sustainable Yield” (MSY). Our FMPs allow us to assess the state of the stocks and set out a series of tailored and evidence-based short-, medium- and long-term measures to maintain or restore stocks to MSY.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential socio-economic impact of proposed quota adjustments on the (a) South West fishing industry and (b) English Channel fisheries.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Consultations with the EU to agree fishing opportunities for 2025 began in November and are expected to conclude in December 2024. A final assessment of quota changes, as a result of these consultations, will be published in spring next year.

As per requirements of the Fisheries Act 2020 and Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS), the UK uses the best available scientific advice in fisheries management and negotiations, this includes the annual advice from the International Council of the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) on fishing opportunities. Accepting the ICES advised headline advice in full, would lead to a reduction in UK quota in the South-West of England and English Channel compared to 2024.

However, in seeking to appropriately balance all the fisheries objectives set out in the Fisheries Act 2020 and the JFS, the UK will in some cases seek to agree an allocation with the EU, above that advised by ICES, for example for a 0 Total Allowable Catch (TAC) stock where a bycatch-only TAC may be required to prevent adverse impacts on the fishing industry, within sustainable limits.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the International Council of the Exploration of the Sea's publication entitled Advice on fishing opportunities, catch, and effort, Celtic Seas and Greater North Sea ecoregions, published on 28 June 2024.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra routinely use the best available scientific advice, including that provided by the International Council of the Exploration of the Seas (ICES), within international fisheries negotiations, where catch limits are agreed on shared stocks, and in wider policy development The best available scientific advice is considered as part of our policy approach which seeks to balance obligations and objectives, as set out in the Fisheries Act 2020 and the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS).

In line with the JFS, making use of ICES advice, the UK seeks to achieve greater environmental sustainability and provide profitable outcomes for the industry including aiming to increase over the medium term the total number of stocks fished at Maximum Sustainable Yield. As part of the annual negotiation process, Defra officials provide Ministers with an assessment of how the UK negotiating position on fishing opportunities balances these objectives on a stock-by-stock basis.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what specific measures have been taken by the Government and Environment Agency to meet their stated objectives and responsibilities with regard to the leisure fishing industry, and what criteria with measurable indicators and outcomes have been set to determine the degree of current and future success in delivery.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency (EA) has a duty to maintain, improve and develop fisheries for freshwater and diadromous fish. Income from angling rod licence sales is reinvested in work across the country including monitoring, enforcement, fish stocking, fish rescues, responding to incidents and providing fisheries advice. This work is partially funded by rod licence income. The EA reports annually on how rod licence income is used. The 2023 report can be found here (attached).

The Government recognised recreational sea fishing in the Fisheries Act 2020 (FA2020) enabling it to contribute to the Act’s objectives as required by the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS). Recreational sea fishing is being integrated into Defra’s evidence-based Fisheries Management Plans, which set out how the JFS objectives will be delivered. Progress towards the JFS will be assessed and reported every six years, in-line with section 3 of the FA2020.

Found: the powers conferred by section 36(1)(b) and (c), (4)(a), (c) and (d) and (6)(a) and (c) of the Fisheries Act

Found: Article 11(4) was amended by S.I. 2019/1312 and the Fisheries Act 2020 (c. 22). (432)EUR 2019/1871; Articles

Found: Regulations 1993(5); and (b)in respect of which there is a valid fishing licence issued under the Fisheries Act

Found: See also the Foyle Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1952 .

Found: AoS Report – Appendices Vol. 1 76 Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 Created to protect

Found: • Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. • Eels (England and Wales) Regulations 2009.

Found: IFCAs stated that they have also supported the implementation of the Fisheries Act 2020, sitting on

Found: are underpinned by the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009)104, Environment Act (2021)105, Fisheries Act

Found: Coastal Access Act (2009) UK’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution 38 (2021)105, Fisheries Act

Found: opportunities for British fishing boats Presented to Parliament pursuant to section 24(2) of the Fisheries Act

Found: The Secretary of State makes these determinations under section 23 of the Fisheries Act 2020.

Found: The Fisheries Act contains precautionary, ecosystem and sustainability objectives which align closely

Found: In line with the Fisheries Act, a precautionary approach is adopted for stocks where there is insufficient

Found: publication of a Marine Plan for Northern Ireland. 223 UK Marine and Coastal Access Act 224 Fisheries Act

Found: society 99.9 Other triable either way (non motoring) 09888 - Triable either way offences under Sea Fisheries Act

Found: ........................................................ 33 4 Executive Summary The Fisheries Act

Found: The Fisheries Act 20202 is the main framework regulation for the management of the UK’s fish and shellfish

Found: The Fisheries Act 202025 is the main framework regulation for the management of the UK’s fish and shellfish

Found: co-management approaches could help to achieve effective and sustainable outcomes (MMO1205, MMO1205a Fisheries Act

Found: The Secretary of State makes this determination under section 23 of the Fisheries Act 2020 (except

Found: SECRETARY OF STATE: 20 December 2023 19 ▪ Consent /Licence/ Permit under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: April 2010, with duties and powers set out in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, and the Fisheries Act

Found: fishing instrument, namely rod and line contrary to Section 27 (1) (a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. 

Found: Derbyshire, where fishing for or taking fish may be authorised under section 27A Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

Found: fishing instrument, namely rod and line contrary to Section 27 (1) (a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. 

Found: environment, FMPs must follow expert guidance and be aligned with the eight objectives of the Fisheries Act

Found: UK Fisheries Act 2020 and Fisheries Objectives Fishing activity in UK waters is managed in line with

Found: level.Fishing activity in UK waters is managed in line with UK fisheries legislation (which includes the Fisheries Act

Found: the current consultations SFF is working on: - 6 fisheries management plans (FMP) under the UK Fisheries Act

Found: Those Instruments made under the Fisheries Act 1981, the Fishery Limits Act 1976 and the European Communities

Found: The Scottish Ministers in exercise of their powers under paragraph 1 of schedule 6 of the Fisheries Act

Found: Scot) Act 1951 • Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries (Consol) (Scot) Act 2003 • Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: of the sustainability, precautionary, scientific evidence and bycatch objectives set out in the Fisheries Act

Found: recorded;"British sea-fishery officer" means any person who by virtue of section 7 of the Sea Fisheries Act

Found: of the sustainability, precautionary, scientific evidence and bycatch objectives set out in the Fisheries Act

Found: recorded; “British sea-fishery officer” means any person who by virtue of section 7 of the Sea Fisheries Act

Found: recorded; “British sea-fishery officer” means any person who by virtue of section 7 of the Sea Fisheries Act

Found: contractsPersonal (Withheld under Reg 11(2))n/a2024004242162024-07-29 00:00:0027/08/2024Full releaseThe Fisheries Act

Found: , social and environmental outcomes, consistent with our Fisheries Management Strategy and UK Fisheries Act

Found: • The UK Fisheries Act and UK Joint Fisheries Statement contain a statutory commitment for the production

Found: for inshore fisheries are amongst our flagship policies to deliver on the objectives of the Fisheries Act

Found: Programme for Government 2024-25, National Marine Plan including Regional Marine Planning, The Fisheries Act

Found: Programme for Government 2024-25, National Marine Plan including Regional Marine Planning, The Fisheries Act

Found: Fisheries act like natural predators (by removing them)NSBreedingProductivityShetland, Orkney, SES, NEECTH

Found: its fair work framework as part of the Scottish Ministers' obligations under section 25 of the Fisheries Act

Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people were prosecuted on the suspicion of committing an offence in Scotland listed in the Sea Fish Conservation Act 1967, broken down by offence, in each year since 2021.

Answered by Gougeon, Mairi - Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands

The Scottish Government does not have the powers to prosecute Marine and Fisheries offences, these powers lie with the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) who prosecute on our behalf. This is a technical point.

The 1967 Act is a parent act under which orders were made, it is therefore more likely that any offence would be taken against a subordinate order rather than the act itself. Other acts have also superseded the 1967 Act, such as the Fisheries Act 2020, which is where licensing powers comes from. Any licence breaches are therefore pursued under the 2020 Act.

Additionally, the Scottish Government has powers to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) in lieu of reporting cases to the COPFS. Most cases where a penalty was deemed appropriate were dealt with in this way. Details of FPNs are published, link Reporting statistics from marine and fisheries compliance - gov.scot

Table detailing cases prosecuted under the 1967 Act or subordinate orders.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31887 by Mairi Gougeon on 9 December 2024, whether it has considered using powers under section 36 of the Fisheries Act 2020 to place the Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture into law.

Answered by Gougeon, Mairi - Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands

The Scottish Government continually considers where regulation for farmed fish health is necessary.

We already have robust legislation, policies, and operational practices in place to ensure fish farmers are meeting statutory requirements on sealice reporting and management, mortality reporting, listed disease surveillance and containment of farmed fish. The aquaculture sector in Scotland shows a significant level of compliance with both legislative and voluntary requirements. Enactment in law of the finfish sector’s Code of Good Practice through existing legislative instruments would not necessarily significantly improve outcomes for fish health and, therefore, there are no plans for further legislation at this time.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that the fishing quota for Scotland following exiting the EU has been used to support the fishing businesses with the most selective and/or lowest impact approach to fishing, in line with duties set out in section 25 of the Fisheries Act 2020.

Answered by Gougeon, Mairi - Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands

Since exiting the EU, the Scottish Government has set aside additional quota for use by our 10 metre and under sector (predominantly inshore vessels that make up the vast majority of the Scottish fishing fleet). These vessels are associated with fishing methods that are more selective and typically fish with methods that have less impact on the seabed.

In 2025, the Scottish Government will distribute a portion of West of Scotland cod based on an application process which will place environmental considerations at its heart. This seeks to incentivise the use of selective fishing gear and fishing techniques or vessels with a reduced impact on the environment.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish the criteria that it will use when allocating fishing quotas in 2025, as required by section 25(1)(a) of the Fisheries Act 2020, which states that these must be "transparent and objective".

Answered by Gougeon, Mairi - Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands

The Scottish Quota Management Rules were published on 18 September 2024, these detail how fishing opportunities are distributed to the Scottish fishing industry.

The rules state that a further update may be made, when the application process for West of Scotland cod additional quota launches in 2025. This initiative will invite bids for quota, principally on the basis of enhanced fishing gear selectivity and reduced environmental impact.