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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Government will commit to setting fishing quotas for target stocks at a level which prevents accidental catches of bycatch species exceeding sustainable limits.

The United Kingdom advocates an approach towards setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) which is founded on the best available scientific advice and that will maintain or rebuild sustainable fish stocks and fisheries. For a number of target stocks, a further key consideration when setting the TACs is their interaction with other stocks caught in the same mixed fishery. Consequently, we recognise the need to minimise unwanted bycatch and maintain stocks at sustainable levels.