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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to help preserve juvenile cod fishing stocks after the UK leaves the EU.

The UK has been working with the EU to agree Multi-Annual Plans (MAPs) for the North Sea and Western Waters which will deliver sustainable management of mixed fisheries including the provision of better protection for juvenile stocks such as cod. For example, MAPs will provide the framework for optimum recovery measures including limitations in certain areas to protect spawning and juvenile fish. MAPs will be an important tool for our future bilateral co-operation with the EU.