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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many at sea inspections were conducted in fishing areas (a) Area 7D and (b) Area 7E of (i) UK vessels under 10m, (ii) UK vessels over 10m and (iii) EU vessels.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) employs a risk and intelligence based operational model to deliver surveillance and assurance capability at sea. At-sea inspections are just one of a range of tools deployed by the MMO as part of its strategy to prevent fisheries infringements in English waters.

The breakdown of inspections by MMO in fishing areas 7D and 7E during 2021 and 2022 was: