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

To ask Her Majesty's Government, which three species of fish caught for commercial purposes in British waters are in shortest supply.

The UK Sea Fisheries Statistics 2017 www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-sea-fisheries-annual-statistics-report-2017 - provides information on the UK fishing industry and about the exploitation of fish stocks.

The three key commercially targeted sea fisheries species which would be considered to be in shortest supply determined by scientific advice are:

- North Sea cod

- Mackerel in the North East Atlantic

- West Coast horse mackerel

Some bycatch stocks of lower direct commercial importance which are taken in mixed fisheries, such as Celtic Sea cod and Irish Sea whiting, could also be considered as being in short supply.