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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their strategy for reducing quotas if fish stocks fall below their maximum sustainable yield.

Scientific advice indicating that fish stocks have fallen below their maximum sustainable yield will inform the UK’s positions in annual negotiations to determine the total allowable catches (TACs). In addition, a key part of our approach to rebuilding the health of depleted stocks is improving selectivity in mixed fisheries. The on-going development of Fisheries Management Plans will also assist in addressing such issues and inform the TAC-setting process moving forward. Fisheries Management Plans require assessments of the health of fish stocks and policies to restore and/or maintain stocks at levels capable of supporting sustainable harvesting. Where appropriate, they will set out actions to improve data collection and ways to establish sustainable harvest rates.