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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to help ensure that the Environmental Improvement Plan's commitment to implement fisheries byelaws for offshore marine protected areas by the end of 2026 will be met on time.

The Marine Management Organisation is following a four-stage process to consider necessary fisheries byelaws in our MPAs. Stages one and two are complete. A consultation on stage three which proposes further restrictions on bottom trawling in offshore MPAs closed on 29 September. The Marine Management Organisation is now carefully considering all responses received, and decisions will be made in due course. The stage four call for evidence has been completed, and any proposed byelaws will be subject to consultation in due course.