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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to create an extended producer responsibility scheme for fishing gear in order to reduce global ocean plastic.

The UK is committed to protecting the marine environment from all human-induced stressors, including marine litter such as abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG). We are exploring methods to recycle and reuse ALDFG as well as end of life gear at ports and aquaculture farms with the intention of moving the sector towards a circular economy model. This involves assessing all potential options and considering proportionality and value for money. We will consult on the most appropriate solution to managing end of life fishing gear.

In addition the UK is also working collaboratively at the International Maritime Organisation to further address actions that have been identified under its 2018 Action Plan and 2021 Strategy on marine plastic litter from ships, in particular ALDFG.