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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many foreign-flagged vessels are licensed to fish in UK waters; and if he will take steps to ensure that UK fishermen have full access to UK fisheries.

The UK Single Issuing Authority (UKSIA), overseen by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), licenses all foreign vessels fishing in UK waters. As of 2025, 1,758 foreign-flagged vessels, mainly from the EU, are licensed to operate in the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The UK fleet includes over 4,500 licensed and registered vessels, all eligible to access national fishing opportunities.