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 is having with representatives of the fishing industry on the future implications of the discard ban and its effects on local fishermen’s income.

I have discussed the implications of the Landing Obligation and possible problems regarding choke species with a number of fishing industry representatives including from the Cornwall Fish Producers Organisation, where concerns over the gadoid fishery in the Celtic sea were raised.

The UK has put forward proposals for mitigation measures which have been included in the join recommendations submitted by the North Sea and North Western Water regional groups to the Commission in May 2018. Other mitigation measures will be developed in discussion with the European Commission and Member States over the next few months for possible inclusion in the annual TAC and Quota Regulation to be agreed at December Council. I had a bilateral meeting with Commissioner Vella to discuss the specific challenge of choke species during the Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on the 18^th July.