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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of existing measures in incentivising compliance with the landing obligation, and what further measures are planned to ensure compliance.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

The Government keeps the effectiveness of fisheries management measures under review, including those that support compliance with the landing obligation. Compliance is supported through monitoring, inspection and enforcement activity undertaken by the Marine Management Organisation, alongside measures to encourage more selective fishing practices.

Reducing unwanted catches is a complex challenge and the Government is continuing work on wider discards reform, including measures to improve catch recording and support sustainable fisheries management.