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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Sea Fish Licensing (England) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 S.I., 253, what assessment he has made of the preparedness of the appropriate authorities in England to operate licensing procedures for foreign fishing vessels in the event that the UK leaves the EU on 31 October 2019.

When the UK leaves the EU, access for foreign vessels to fish in UK waters will be a matter for negotiation. Foreign fishing vessels will be prohibited from fishing in UK waters unless they have a licence issued by the UK. In the event of an agreement providing for access to UK waters for foreign vessels, the Marine Management Organisation will act as the UK’s Single Issuing Authority and will licence non-UK vessels to fish in UK waters on behalf of Devolved Fisheries Administrations