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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take legislative steps to restrict bottom trawling of sandeel fish in the North Sea.

Fishing for sandeel in UK waters of the North Sea and all Scottish waters has been prohibited since March 2024. Fisheries management is largely devolved. In England, the prohibition of fishing for sandeel in the North Sea is implemented through fishing vessel license restrictions. There are currently no plans for to enforce this prohibition in England through legislation.