Found: Fisheries Act 2020 Royal Assent date: 23 November 2020 In planning the post legislative scrutiny

Found: fisheries negotiations and cap limits, fundamentally we are observing the requirements of the Fisheries Act

Found: fisheries negotiations and cap limits, fundamentally we are observing the requirements of the Fisheries Act

Found: Obviously, we operate within the legislation from the Fisheries Act from a few years ago and try to

Found: The Fisheries Act 2020 allows the UK to restrict where and how fishing takes place immediately via vessel

Found: For example, The Fisheries Act (2020) Section 3b is incompatible with UN SDG14.

Found: This is essential to meet the ecosystem objective of the Fisheries Act to minimise and where possible

Found: undertaking illegal fishing activities are not subsidised in this way - this is despite the UK Fisheries Act

Found: One of the (few) benefits of Brexit was that the Fisheries Act (2020) extended the MMO’s byelaw making

Found: The UK Fisheries Act includes a commitment to eliminate and minimise the impacts of bycatch, but the

Found: Fisheries Act 2020 s. 57 ‘“the marine and aquatic environment” includes … (b) features of archaeological

Found: take place.GME0045 - Ineffectual time bound targets within pieces of legislation such as the Fisheries Act

Found: of the MACA 2009 byelaw making powers (129A53) provided to the MMO through Schedule 10 of the Fisheries Act

Found: The Fisheries Act 2020 provides the framework to manage our fisheries as an independent coastal state

Found: The Fisheries Act says decisions about the sea should be made taking account of the needs of the environment

Found: The Fisheries Act says decisions about the sea should be made taking account of the needs of the environment

Found: In accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Fisheries Act 2020 (“the Act”), the consultation draft

Found: the Marine and Coastal Access Act, Merchant Shipping Acts, the Environment Act 2021, and the Fisheries act

Found: Section 25 of The Fisheries Act 2020 already offers a framework for more sustainable fishing by allocating

Found: Existing legislation appears to be ignored, with the WFD (UK) and Salmon Fisheries Act both including

Found: In the case of the Fisheries Act 2020, the then Government decided that a PEC was required to provide

Found: the powers conferred by section 36(1)(b) and (c), (4)(a), (c) and (d) and (6)(a) and (c) of the Fisheries Act

Found: Article 11(4) was amended by S.I. 2019/1312 and the Fisheries Act 2020 (c. 22). (432)EUR 2019/1871; Articles

Found: • Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. • Eels (England and Wales) Regulations 2009.

Found: Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 Created to protect particularly salmon and trout from commercial

Found: AoS Report – Appendices Vol. 1 76 Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 Created to protect

Found: • Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. • Eels (England and Wales) Regulations 2009.

Found: approaches in key areas, including the Environment Act 2021, the Agriculture Act 2020 and the Fisheries Act

Found: IFCAs stated that they have also supported the implementation of the Fisheries Act 2020, sitting on

Found: are underpinned by the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009)104, Environment Act (2021)105, Fisheries Act

Found: Coastal Access Act (2009) UK’s 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution 38 (2021)105, Fisheries Act

Found: opportunities for British fishing boats Presented to Parliament pursuant to section 24(2) of the Fisheries Act

Found: The Secretary of State makes these determinations under section 23 of the Fisheries Act 2020.

Found: The Fisheries Act contains precautionary, ecosystem and sustainability objectives which align closely

Found: In line with the Fisheries Act, a precautionary approach is adopted for stocks where there is insufficient

Found: publication of a Marine Plan for Northern Ireland. 223 UK Marine and Coastal Access Act 224 Fisheries Act

Found: .—(1) Notwithstanding anything in the Salmon and Fresh- water Fisheries Act, 1923, but subject

Found: April 2010, with duties and powers set out in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, and the Fisheries Act

Found: evidence, social and economic and sustainable fisheries, contributing towards delivering the Fisheries Act

Found: The Secretary of State makes this determination under section 23 of the Fisheries Act 2020 (except

Found: SECRETARY OF STATE: 20 December 2023 19 ▪ Consent /Licence/ Permit under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: ........................................................ 33 4 Executive Summary The Fisheries Act

Found: The Fisheries Act 20202 is the main framework regulation for the management of the UK’s fish and shellfish

Found: The Fisheries Act 202025 is the main framework regulation for the management of the UK’s fish and shellfish

Found: fishing instrument, namely rod and line contrary to Section 27 (1) (a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. 

Found: Derbyshire, where fishing for or taking fish may be authorised under section 27A Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

Found: environment, FMPs must follow expert guidance and be aligned with the eight objectives of the Fisheries Act

Found: facto IFG for 11 Note that these FMPs are different from those under development under the Fisheries Act

Found: UK Fisheries Act 2020 and Fisheries Objectives Fishing activity in UK waters is managed in line with

Found: level.Fishing activity in UK waters is managed in line with UK fisheries legislation (which includes the Fisheries Act

Found: the current consultations SFF is working on: - 6 fisheries management plans (FMP) under the UK Fisheries Act

Found: Those Instruments made under the Fisheries Act 1981, the Fishery Limits Act 1976 and the European Communities

Found: The Scottish Ministers in exercise of their powers under paragraph 1 of schedule 6 of the Fisheries Act

Found: Scot) Act 1951 • Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries (Consol) (Scot) Act 2003 • Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: of the sustainability, precautionary, scientific evidence and bycatch objectives set out in the Fisheries Act

Found: recorded;"British sea-fishery officer" means any person who by virtue of section 7 of the Sea Fisheries Act

Found: of the sustainability, precautionary, scientific evidence and bycatch objectives set out in the Fisheries Act

Found: recorded; “British sea-fishery officer” means any person who by virtue of section 7 of the Sea Fisheries Act

Found: recorded; “British sea-fishery officer” means any person who by virtue of section 7 of the Sea Fisheries Act

Found: contractsPersonal (Withheld under Reg 11(2))n/a2024004242162024-07-29 00:00:0027/08/2024Full releaseThe Fisheries Act

Found: , social and environmental outcomes, consistent with our Fisheries Management Strategy and UK Fisheries Act

Found: • The UK Fisheries Act and UK Joint Fisheries Statement contain a statutory commitment for the production

Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people were prosecuted on the suspicion of committing an offence in Scotland listed in the Sea Fish Conservation Act 1967, broken down by offence, in each year since 2021.

Answered by Gougeon, Mairi - Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands

The Scottish Government does not have the powers to prosecute Marine and Fisheries offences, these powers lie with the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) who prosecute on our behalf. This is a technical point.

The 1967 Act is a parent act under which orders were made, it is therefore more likely that any offence would be taken against a subordinate order rather than the act itself. Other acts have also superseded the 1967 Act, such as the Fisheries Act 2020, which is where licensing powers comes from. Any licence breaches are therefore pursued under the 2020 Act.

Additionally, the Scottish Government has powers to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) in lieu of reporting cases to the COPFS. Most cases where a penalty was deemed appropriate were dealt with in this way. Details of FPNs are published, link Reporting statistics from marine and fisheries compliance - gov.scot

Table detailing cases prosecuted under the 1967 Act or subordinate orders.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-31887 by Mairi Gougeon on 9 December 2024, whether it has considered using powers under section 36 of the Fisheries Act 2020 to place the Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture into law.

Answered by Gougeon, Mairi - Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands

The Scottish Government continually considers where regulation for farmed fish health is necessary.

We already have robust legislation, policies, and operational practices in place to ensure fish farmers are meeting statutory requirements on sealice reporting and management, mortality reporting, listed disease surveillance and containment of farmed fish. The aquaculture sector in Scotland shows a significant level of compliance with both legislative and voluntary requirements. Enactment in law of the finfish sector’s Code of Good Practice through existing legislative instruments would not necessarily significantly improve outcomes for fish health and, therefore, there are no plans for further legislation at this time.

Found: undertakings29 in limited circumstances (i.e. for an offence committed under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: legislative competence relating to fishing and amendments have been made by section 45 of the Fisheries Act

Found: Fisheries, as evidenced by the amendments to the Fisheries Act 2020 d.

Found: Fisheries Act 1981 13. —(1) Section 30 of the Fisheries Act 1981(c) is amended as follows.

Found: The Fisheries Act 2020 sets out a framework for UK fishing policy.

Found: 1975 £220 £98 19-Oct-21 Keiran Price No Rod and Line Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: 1975 £220 £98 19-Oct-21 Keiran Price No Rod and Line Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: legislation that relates to fishing, fisheries or fish health and is made after section 45 of the Fisheries Act

Found: legislative competence relating to fishing and amendments have been made by section 45 of the Fisheries Act

Found: These Regulations are made under Paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 of the Fisheries Act 2020. 4.

Found: Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) and Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) commitments (under the Fisheries Act

Found: The plan was developed jointly with the UK Government and complies with the requirements of the Fisheries Act

Found: Background In line with the Fisheries Act (2020) and the Joint Fisheries Statement 2022 the bass FMP

Found: These Regulations are made under Paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 of the Fisheries Act 2020.

Found: approved NRW’s advertised net duties, in accordance with the provisions of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: Under the Fisheries Act 2020, the 4 UK administrations (the fisheries policy authorities) must prepare

Found: Under Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, it is a criminal offence for anyone to wilfully disturb

Found: Under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, it is a criminal offence for anyone to wilfully

Found: for whelk Relevant Vessel means a fishing vessel which is— Licensed under section 15 of the Fisheries Act

Found: variation of an order under section 26 (limitation of fishing licences) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: communities to thrive”.1 1.2 The WMFS utilises new powers for Welsh Ministers contained in the UK Fisheries Act

Found: Group for Welsh Fisheries Following our exit from the EU and the Common Fisheries Policy, the Fisheries Act

Found: crab and lobster fisheries in the Welsh zone, and contribute to meeting the objectives of the Fisheries Act

Found: fisheries on stocks would align with the Scientific Evidence and Sustainability Objectives of the Fisheries Act

Found: MB explained the Fisheries Act 2020 requires us to maintain fishing at MSY.

Found: NRW has powers under the Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 (“SAFFA”) to fix duties for salmon

Found: Relevant Vessel means a fishing vessel which is Licensed under section 15 of the Fisheries Act 2020

Found: Data on sea angling is needed because the Fisheries Act 2020 embedded recreational fisheries in UK’s

Found: future conversation with the group on the detail for new quota allocation arrangements as the Fisheries Act

Found: The scheme utilises new powers for Welsh Ministers contained in the UK Fisheries Act 2020 and is consistent

Found: These Regulations are made under Paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 of the Fisheries Act 2020.

Found: For example, the Fisheries Act mandates aiming for MSY of the fishery as a standard, the FMP could have

Found: Plans in line with the timelines set out in the UK Joint Fisheries Statement linked to the UK Fisheries Act

Found: for 2023 fishing season, in line with the statutory requirements of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: The Fisheries Act 2020, amongst other matters, extended the legislative competence of the Senedd Cymru

Found: Plans in line with the timelines set out in the UK Joint Fisheries Statement linked to the UK Fisheries Act

Found: Fisheries Act 2020 Joint Fisheries StatementSummary of outcome Read a summary of responses and government

Found: Fisheries Act 2020 Joint Fisheries StatementSummary of outcome A summary of responses and government

Found: The Fisheries Act 2020 sets out the legal rules, responsibilities and processes for aquaculture.

Found: From the eight objectives in the Fisheries Act 2020, the policy framework would set the direction for

Found: Taken together, the creation of the Fisheries Act, the Joint Fisheries Statement and FMPs will create

Found: Taken together, the creation of the Fisheries Act, the Joint Fisheries Statement and FMPs will create

Found: These Regulations are made under Paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 of the Fisheries Act 2020.

Found: The JFS mus t be published within two years of royal assent of the Fisheries Act 2020, by 23 November

Found: These Regulations are made under Paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 of the Fisheries Act 2020.

Found: Information available at www.gov.wales/net-zero-wales 81 Fisheries Act 2020.

Found: These Regulations are made under Paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 of the Fisheries Act 2020.

Found: Under the Fisheries Act 2020, the 4 UK administrations (the fisheries policy authorities) must prepare

Found: ASSESSMENT\ES FOR PAC\ES CHAPTER 7 BIODIVERSITY ISSUE P01.DOCX Page 7-8 Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: Water Resources Act 1991  Land Drainage Act 1991  Reservoirs Act 1975  Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: 1993; Slaughter of Poultry Act 1967; Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Act 1967; Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: is thought that the SI would be introduced using powers available under section 5 of the Sea Fisheries Act

Found: is thought that the SI would be introduced using powers available under section 5 of the Sea Fisheries Act

Found: Time pressure on the legislative resulted in the inclusion of the former Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: Indeed Scotland had a very recent opportunity during the passage of the Aquaculture and Fisheries Act

Found: This is illegal under the salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act.

Found: Access Bill has updated all previous fisheries legislation, replacing the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: – Examples of offences and options for our enforcement response 4.1 Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 • Salmon Act 1986 • Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: again there is no reference to enforcement of fisheries as required by Salmon and Fresh Water Fisheries Act

Found: for the purposes of this subsection by order under section 40A of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: The SFIA is a UK Non-Departmental Public Body established by the Fisheries Act 1981.

Question

What work is the Welsh Government doing to disincentivise fishing practices that lead to bycatch and instead promote other forms of fishing which are less likely to disrupt the marine ecology?

Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs

In June 2022, the Welsh Government supported the publication of the UK Bycatch Mitigation Initiative (BMI) to address bycatch in Wales. The BMI sets out high-level actions under five policy areas covering seabirds, seals and cetaceans to reduce bycatch.

To avoid impacts on trade, the UK also must comply with international standards for the conservation of marine mammals. Consequently, since 2022 it has been mandatory for licensed fishers to report any bycatch of marine mammals within 48 hours of the end of the fishing trip. Bycatch by Welsh vessels is likely to be low if any due to the predominant gear types used by the Welsh fishing industry. To date there have been no reports of marine mammal bycatch by Welsh vessels.

Linked to this, the Fisheries Act 2020 sets out eight fisheries objectives to ensure we deliver a sustainable fishing industry and healthy marine environment. The Joint Fisheries Statement 2022 (JFS) provides further details of the policies to achieve, or contribute to achieving, the objectives in the Act largely through the implementation of Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs).

FMPs are key tools to deliver sustainable and well-managed fisheries. The plans set strategic direction and provide a ‘road map’ for the management of key stocks including the development of future management measures. The design and structure of FMPs directly relate to the fisheries objectives including the bycatch and ecosystem objectives.

The Welsh Government is involved in the delivery of 30 FMPs over the lifetime of this JFS. Each of these plans will include actions in relation to the eight objectives. For example, the regulation of shore-based nets and the potential bycatch of migratory salmonids was raised as an issue during the consultation on the Bass FMP. As a result, the published FMP includes a short-term action to review the practice of shore-based and shallow inshore netting to determine whether additional protections are needed to prevent migratory fish bycatch. This action supports the bycatch objective and the wider FMP goal of minimising and, where possible, eliminating bycatch of sensitive species in bass fisheries.

Question

What is the Welsh Government response to the findings of the Senedd's Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee that there needs to be further investment in data, monitoring, innovation, skills training, advisory services, and research and development in the agricultural, forestry, and fisheries sectors to improve climate resilience?

Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs

Climate Adaptation/Resilience - Agriculture

The Welsh Government is working on a new national climate adaptation strategy, and we are developing a new monitoring framework that will be published soon after, which will be based on the CCC adaptation monitoring framework.

As part of this, we will review evidence of likely scenarios and adaptation strategies available to Welsh farming to support policy teams and the industry in thinking about how to improve climate resilience on farms, whilst also mitigating GHG emissions with an aim to identify win-win actions.

As part of the Sustainable Farming Scheme, we intend to ensure any data collection helps assess the extent and effectiveness of actions taken by farmers to adapt to the impact of climate change. 

KT&I Support

Farming Connect interventions such as Our Farms and Advisory Service, will continue to raise awareness of the impacts of climate change and how to mitigate against them. 

We will also consider opportunities for promoting and supporting continuous learning and upskilling through our Sustainable Farming Scheme support and Farming Connect programme, as farmers adapt to climate change and develop new skills and as new technologies emerge. 

Any future knowledge transfer, innovation and/or advisory service for farmers will include support for farmers to mitigate against climate change, promote resilient farming methods subject to budget availability.

Mental health & well-being support for farmers concerned by the impacts of climate change is also available through FarmWell Wales and rural charities such as RABI, Tir Dewi and DPJ Foundation. The Farm Liaison Service are also on hand to signpost or provide advice where appropriate. 

Data Monitoring & Evaluation

Welsh Government are currently developing an interim overarching monitoring and reporting frame-work for all programmes and schemes within Rural Affairs. This will include an evidence-based intervention logic for each scheme, ensure consistent data collection and quality assurance protocols and proactive financial management.  The monitoring and reporting timescales are set out in section 4 of the Agriculture Act (Wales) 2023.

As part of our national scale monitoring programme, we capture data and information from field surveys and farmer surveys on actions taken to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Working with members of the UK GHG inventory teams we undertake evaluation of the sector and specific policy initiatives, for example the land management scheme Glastir contribution to mitigating climate change and helping the sector to adapt to climate change.

Our future monitoring and evaluation of Sustainable Land Management will include climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation.

Forestry

The Welsh Government recognises the challenges in making woodland more resilient to the threats posed by our changing climate and we encourage well managed, diverse woodland that are more adaptable to change. NRW publish advice on  Making your woodland or forest more resilient  on its website.

The Welsh Government also funds the work of Forest Research who have created a  Climate Change Hub  and published a number of  Climate change factsheets . Our grants and maintenance payments are used to fund woodlands that comply with UK Forestry Standards, which includes increasing diversity and improving resilience of woodlands and forests as a key part of its requirement.

The forestry sector has a crucial role to play in the environmental and economic future of Wales.  The work we are doing as part of our Timber Strategy looks at how we can ensure we have the right skills and the right training for the future. Growth in the forestry and timber sectors should see an increase in job opportunities across the supply chain and a need for development of skills in woodland creation and management as well as timber processing, manufacturing and construction sectors.

The Net Zero Skills Action Plan, launched in February 2023, sets out a range of actions that aim to support the future skills needs of our key sectors in Wales. Furthermore, we have now completed a Net Zero Sector Skills consultation, which provided an opportunity to strengthen our understanding of the current skills position and skills challenges for sectors in Wales. The outcome of the consultation will help inform Sector Skills Roadmaps, which will include key milestones, skills requirements and workforce demands for sectors, including Land Use.

A new Net Zero strand of our Flexible Skills Programme (FSP) was also launched last October. Aimed at Employers, it provides 50% funding to support a range of courses to help businesses and their workforce adapt to business practices that better meet our net zero targets.

Fisheries

Following our exit from the EU, the Fisheries Act 2020 came into effect to create a UK framework for the management of our fisheries and aquaculture.  The eight fisheries objectives set out in the Act, provide the basis for the policies set out in the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) which was published by the UK Fisheries Policy Authorities (FPAs) in 2022. The objectives collectively define sustainable fishing and are designed to help the FPAs balance the achievement of a thriving, profitable seafood sector with a healthy and resilient marine environment in the long term.

The work of the Fisheries Division is now focussed on delivering the fisheries objectives, largely through an ambitious programme of Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) set out in the JFS to ensure the sustainable management of sea fish stocks. FMPs provide roadmaps for future management of stocks to maintain and, if necessary, restore them to sustainable levels. The design and structure of FMPs directly relate to the fisheries objectives which includes the climate change objective:

The ‘climate change objective’ is that—

(a) the adverse effect of fish and aquaculture activities on climate change is minimised, and

(b) fish and aquaculture activities adapt to climate change.

The Welsh Government is involved in the delivery of 30 FMPs over the lifetime of this JFS.  Each of these plans will include actions in relation to the eight objectives. It will be important we use our resources wisely to achieve the best outcomes alongside wider Welsh Government priorities, including tackling the nature and climate emergencies, and the need to continue to deliver our statutory fisheries duties.

Question

What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure netsmen are able to secure their fishing licences and fish tags in a timely manner?

Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs

I confirmed the changes to net duties as advertised by Natural Resources Wales on the 18th April in accordance with the requirements of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 having considered the outstanding objections.

This was communicated to NRW on the 19th April. NRW had kept fishers updated throughout the determination process and notified the netsmen, by post and email of my decision on the 19th April.

NRW have put in place measures to ensure any fishers who pay the duties before close of business on 26 April will receive their license and tags ahead of the start of the season on the 1st May.

As of 24th April, 10 of the 22 netsmen who had been allocated licenses had paid the duties.

Question

What measures are in place to safeguard marine protected site features which may be sensitive to disturbance caused by commercial fishing vessels?

Answered by Minister for Climate Change

The Welsh Government takes a risk-based approach to fisheries management and enforcement in our MPAs, based on likely interactions between fishing gear types and protected features irrespective of vessel size.

All features within sites are assessed against potential harm from these activities and management provisions are proposed where necessary. For fisheries, in scenarios where there is evidence to demonstrate potential harm to a feature, it is possible to manage impacts within sites using mechanisms such as Fishing Orders. For example, the Scallop Order (2010) prohibits scallop dredging within 1 nautical mile of the Welsh coast and extends protection to include many of our coastal MPAs.

Wales is supporting the UK approach to combine the cetacean and seabird bycatch plans into one UK Bycatch Mitigation Initiative (BMI). The BMI will describe and implement practical and effective methods to improve monitoring and mitigation of sensitive species in UK waters. This will also align with the Ecosystem Objective under the Fisheries Act 2020. Policies for achieving, or contributing to the achievement of, the Fisheries Objectives will be set out in a Joint Fisheries Statement, which is currently being developed by all four Administrations.

Question

What measures will the Welsh Government take to ensure sensitive species by-catch in Welsh waters is minimised and where possible eliminated?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Wales cover approximately 50% of the Welsh marine zone and play a key role in protecting some of our most sensitive species. Additional management measures can be used to regulate activities such as fishing where a risk is highlighted to the designated ‘feature’ species.

The status of the MPA network is assessed through ‘indicative condition assessments’ based on available data. Where designated ‘features’ species are not in a ‘favourable’ condition, additional management measures may be considered.

Wales is supporting the UK approach to combine the cetacean and seabird bycatch plans into one UK Bycatch Mitigation Initiative (BMI). The BMI will describe and implement practical and effective methods to improve monitoring and mitigation of sensitive species in UK waters. This will also align with our objective under the Fisheries Act to avoid or reduce bycatch under the ecosystem component. 

Question

What consideration has the Welsh Government given to the use of remote electronic monitoring on fishing vessels in Wales, including those vessels registered outside of the UK?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

Remote Electronic Monitoring is being considered jointly by all UK Fisheries Administrations for inclusion in the Joint Fisheries Statement which will set out policies to achieve or contribute to the achievement of the Fisheries Objectives in the Fisheries Act 2020.

Question

What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the risk to seabirds and cetaceans from accidental capture in fishing gear used in Welsh waters, including by non-UK registered vessels?

Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd

The Welsh Government is working with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) on the Assessing Welsh Fishing Activities (AWFA) project to evaluate the impacts of fishing activities on features of Marine Protected Areas in Wales. NRW will continue to conduct a number of assessments of interactions between fishing gears and features, including mobile species such as seabirds and cetaceans.

Additionally, Wales is supporting the UK approach to combine the cetacean and seabird bycatch plans into one UK Bycatch Mitigation Initiative (BMI). The BMI will describe and implement practical and effective methods to improve monitoring and mitigation of sensitive species in UK waters. This will also align with the Ecosystem Objective under the Fisheries Act 2020 which includes for incidental catches of sensitive species to be minimised and, where possible, eliminated. Policies for achieving, or contributing to the achievement of, the Fisheries Objectives will be set out in a Joint Fisheries Statement, which is currently being developed by all four Administrations.

Question

Will the Minister confirm whether Natural Resources Wales has given licenced commercial salmon netsmen permission to start netting as of 1 June in contravention of the coronavirus regulations?

Answered by Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs

Natural Resources Wales has an obligation under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 to issue net licences to catch salmon and sea trout. At present, in response to dwindling salmon stocks, all net fishers must release any salmon they catch. In common with other commercial fishers, should these net fishers choose to fish commercially, they must comply with current Covid-19 restrictions.

I have asked NRW to remind licensed net fishers of their obligation to comply with current Covid-19 restrictions when fishing.

Found: the Welsh zone, for which the Senedd also recently gained full legislative competence in the Fisheries Act

Found: 4 repeals powers for the Fisheries Administrations to provide financial assistance under the Fisheries Act

Found: Part 5: Shellfisheries This Part makes several amendments to the Sea Fisheries Act (Shellfish) Act

Found: Taking of fish The Marine and Coastal Access Bill amends: ƒ The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act

Found: Acts that will be reviewed include: ♦ The White Herring Fisheries Act 1771; ♦ The Sea Fisheries Act