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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the fishing industry's compliance with the Eels (England and Wales) Regulations 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Compliance with the Eel (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 is assessed against the provision of: catch data for eels less than 12cm long; recorded consignments of live eels from aquaculture businesses; and 60% of live eels (12 cm or less) placed onto the market. The Environment Agency 2016/17 assessment of industry compliance received 390 catch returns from 452 authorised fishers and is pursuing the remainder. All other data was provided.