Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to take steps to increase the flexibility of fishing quotas so that fishermen can respond to changes in species abundance.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Through participating in international negotiations with other coastal States, the UK sets total allowable catches for fish stocks based on the best available scientific advice, primarily that from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES). The advice for most stocks is updated yearly, based on scientific data and sampling information from stock surveys, to reflect the current state of fishing stocks. Regular engagement with the fishing industry to communicate expected changes as early as possible, is also central to the UK’s approach.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
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 ensure a (a) sustainable and (b) supportive approach to the fishing industry.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We are committed to the long-term sustainability and prosperity of the UK fleet and will continue to work closely with the fishing industry and coastal communities. In line with our domestic and international obligations, including those of the Fisheries Act 2020 and Joint Fisheries Statement, we strive to improve the sustainability of our fisheries, and publish annual independent assessments of our progress.
In addition, on 19 May 2025 we announced the £360 million Fisheries and Coastal Growth Fund will help invest in the next generation of fishermen and on 9 June we reopened the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme, two schemes that will support the industry.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce regulation for the transport of live crustaceans from the UK to Europe.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK Government has secured a Sanitary and Phyto Sanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU, which will remove routine SPS border checks with the EU Member States, and some technical barriers to trade such as food labelling, organics, marketing standards and pesticides. This deal will reduce costs and make the seafood exporting journey of live crustaceans to our biggest market simpler, cheaper and quicker.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has a target for the (a) number and (b) combined area of Marine Protected Areas.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK is committed to ensuring that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of marine and coastal areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and managed through ecologically representative, well-connected protected areas. In England there is a comprehensive network of MPAs covering 40% of English waters. Defra’s focus is to ensure those areas are effectively conserved and managed.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research his Department is supporting to facilitate the sustainable expansion of British (a) deep-sea species, (b) aquaculture and (c) other fisheries.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra is committed to supporting the UK fishing industry in line with our domestic and international obligations, including those in the Fisheries Act 2020 and Joint Fisheries Statement. Defra routinely supports significant scientific research to facilitate the sustainable management of fisheries, including through investments in the Seafood Innovation Fund and the Fisheries Industry Science Partnerships Scheme under the UK Seafood Fund. The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, (a Defra Executive Agency) also support a variety of innovative solutions to ensure a sustainable future for our seas, such as a recent project on the nitrogen and carbon sequestration potential of mussel and seaweed aquaculture.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many foreign-flagged vessels are licensed to fish in UK waters; and if he will take steps to ensure that UK fishermen have full access to UK fisheries.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK Single Issuing Authority (UKSIA), overseen by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), licenses all foreign vessels fishing in UK waters. As of 2025, 1,758 foreign-flagged vessels, mainly from the EU, are licensed to operate in the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The UK fleet includes over 4,500 licensed and registered vessels, all eligible to access national fishing opportunities.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to increase the share of fishing opportunities in UK waters for British fishers.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The new UK-EU agreement signed on 19 May ensures retention of the quota uplift agreed in the Brexit deal, which transferred part of the EU quota shares to the UK’s fleet and was worth £175m in fishing opportunities in 2025. The UK’s shares for jointly managed stocks with other coastal states, namely the EU and Norway, are listed in Annex 35 and tables A, B and F of Annex 36 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). These shares will remain fixed from 2026 onwards.
Separately, the UK continues to negotiate with other coastal States on new sustainable sharing arrangements for important jointly managed stocks in the North East Atlantic.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2025 to Question 35636 on Agriculture and Business: Inheritance Tax, whether his Department has requested sight of the Treasury’s modelling that concludes a clawback mechanism would raise significantly less revenue than the proposed reforms to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided on 4 March 2025 to PQ 32918.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of a clawback mechanism as an alternative to the proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This is a decision for His Majesty’s Treasury.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been delivered through the UK Seafood Fund; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK's exit from the EU leads to investment in small-scale British fishing communities.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Since 2021, over £76 million has been delivered through the UK Seafood Fund. This Government remains committed to supporting the fishing industry and small-scale coastal communities. On 19 May 2025, we announced the £360 million Fisheries and Coastal Growth Fund will help invest in the next generation of fishermen, while on 9 June we reopened the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme, two schemes that will support this part of the industry.