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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to maintain the responsibilities and functions in the UK of the European Fisheries Control Agency (a) when the UK leaves the EU and (b) in the event of the UK leaving the EU in 2019 without an agreement.

The European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) is an EU body that organises the operational coordination of fisheries control and inspection activities. It aims to ensure Member States correctly and consistently apply the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

Once we leave the EU and the CFP, Defra, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Devolved Administrations will continue to cooperate in the enforcement of UK fisheries policies.

The UK intends to maintain strong relationships with operational counterparts in other countries after we leave. We will continue to meet our international obligations for control, inspection and reporting.