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

To ask His Majesty's Government what proposals they have for encouraging and developing private and business leisure fishing in rivers and lakes in England and Wales.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency (EA) has a statutory duty under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act (1975) to maintain, improve and develop fisheries. In addition, ministerial guidance they received in 2000 confirmed the need to:

- ensure the conservation and maintain the diversity of freshwater and migratory fish, and to conserve their aquatic environment.

- enhance the contribution migratory and freshwater fisheries make to the economy, particularly in remote rural areas and in areas with low levels of income; and

- enhance the social value of fishing as a widely available and healthy form of recreation.

The EA promotes angling as a widely available and healthy outdoors activity. Getting more people to take up fishing involves working closely with partners, particularly the Angling Trust. This work also results in social, health and wellbeing outcomes.

The EA provides advice and guidance for fishery owners, including commercially run venues, and invests income from rod licence sales to support projects to improve fisheries and facilities for anglers. This improves economic benefits for many angling stakeholders and businesses within local communities, many in rurally deprived areas.

These responsibilities are undertaken by the EA throughout England, the role in Wales sits with National Resources Wales.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that fishing catch limits are in line with scientific advice on that matter.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As an independent coastal State the UK sets catch limits, primarily through negotiation with other coastal States. In line with our domestic and international obligations, including those of the Fisheries Act 2020 and Joint Fisheries Statement, our approach to setting catch limits is based on the best available scientific advice, including advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) on maximum sustainable yield where that is available. Following the conclusion of this year's annual fisheries negotiations, the Government will publish an independent assessment of the number of TACs set consistent with ICES advice for 2025 as it has done in previous years.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to take steps to (a) bring forward legislative proposals to improve protections for farmed fish; and what steps his Department is taking to strengthen the sustainability of the UK's fishing industry.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Animal Welfare Committee’s updated Opinion on the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing was published last year. A GB-wide farmed trout joint Government and industry working group is now examining the issues raised in the report to explore the potential options for more detailed welfare at killing requirements. The Scottish Government are also working closely with the salmon industry.

In line with the Fisheries Act 2020 the Government is making progress delivering Fisheries Management Plans which maintain or restore fish stocks to sustainable levels. Through fisheries negotiations with coastal states our objective is to set Total Allowable Catches in line with the best scientific advice to make sure that stocks are managed over the long term within sustainable limits whilst ensuring stock-building initiatives account for socio-economic considerations.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) economic, (b) social and (c) employment factors are taken into consideration in fisheries consultations between the UK and the EU.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As an independent coastal State the UK engages in annual fisheries consultations with the EU to set fishing opportunities for shared stock. In doing so the UK seeks to balance the fisheries objectives as laid out in the Fisheries Act 2020 in accordance with the policies of the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS). In particular, in line with the JFS, the UK seeks to provide certainty and profitable outcomes for the industry.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current quota for landing bluefin tuna in the light of the success of the species in UK territorial waters.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The UK Government has been actively assessing and adjusting the quota for landing eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT), reflecting the species' resurgence in UK waters. As an independent member of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), in 2023 the UK received a quota of 65 tonnes, which was an increase from previous years. This quota was divided to support both commercial and tag and release scientific fisheries, with 39 tonnes used for a small-scale trial commercial fishery.

In 2024, the UK quota is 66 tonnes. Sixteen tonnes are being used for recreational fishing and 39 tonnes for the continued trial commercial fishery. The remaining quota is being used for commercial bycatch and tagging programmes.

Decisions on how the quota is used have been made to ensure that BFT fisheries meet our international commitments, contribute to delivering Fisheries Act 2020 objectives, and reflect stakeholder interests including both the commercial and recreational sectors. In 2023, Defra commissioned an evaluation of UK BFT fisheries. The report has been published here: Impact Evaluation of Bluefin Tuna Quota Allocation - MF0740 (defra.gov.uk). Defra is continuing to evaluate the social, economic, and environmental impacts of UK BFT fisheries in 2024.

Any changes to the future UK BFT quota will depend on whether the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) established by ICCAT increases or decreases (the next TAC will be established in 2025 for the years 2026-2028) and on the outcomes of ongoing negotiations on quota shares at ICCAT.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on EU fishing rights in UK waters, in the context of the Government's plans to change its relationship with the EU.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to managing fishing access to its waters in a way that balances sustainable management with the interests of the UK fishing industry, as per our obligations under the Fisheries Act 2020 and Joint Fisheries Statement. The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides full reciprocal access during the adjustment period until June 2026, after which access becomes a matter for annual negotiation by default.

Found: in exercise of the powers conferred by section 36(1)(b) and (c) and section 36(4)(a) and (j) of the Fisheries

Found: , HL Paper 71, 9 June 2020, para 65. 122 This Bill was subsequentl y passed by Parliament as the Fisheries

Found: All FMPs must contain the information set out in Section 6 of the Fisheries Act 2020.

Found: Channel mixed flatfish FMP has been prepared and published to meet the requirements set out in the Fisheries

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

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

Found: 25 Year Environment Plan, with new powers and duties from the Environment Act, Agriculture Act and Fisheries

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Found: more sustainable model of fisheries management, which has been codified as 8 objectives within the Fisheries

Found: Participation and co-management are stated parts of the English approach to fisheries management (Fisheries

Found: Act 2020 .

Found: that sets how the MMO will support the implementation of Defra’s 25 -Year Environment Plan and the Fisheries

Found: Act Objectives ................................ ................................ ..................

Found: planning for fisheries and to guide improved monitoring and evaluation in achieving the objectives of the Fisheries

Found: MMO functions are further detailed in the Fisheries Act 2020 where provisions in relation to fisheries

Found: (Defra, 2018) that is managed to achieve social, economic and employment benefits across the UK (Fisheries

Found: This includes through commitments beyond the Fisheries Act, and internal commitments set by the RFG

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

Found: Net Limitation Order (NLO) – Mechanism within the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act, 1975 whereby

Found: the 2022 Kunming -Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework42, the UK 25 Year Environment Plan, the Fisheries

Found: This decision is in line with the MMOs obligations under the Fisheries Act 2020.  

Found: recovery of the stock and would not be in line with the sustainability or precautionary objectives in the Fisheries

Found: 1995/C21 Schedule 13 (49) , A 2020/C22 Schedule 4 , A 2009 /C23, SI 2019/746 – Reg 2 A1.30: The Sea Fisheries

Found: fishing vessels, as determined by the Secretary of State (in accordance with sections 23 and 24 of the Fisheries

Found: Secretary of State Determination 1.4 As set out in sections 23 and 24 of the Fisheries Act 2020,

Found: Act 2020 and to help the UK fulfil its responsibilities as an independent coastal state.

Found: fisheries scientists and advisers provided data, evidence, and advice to support implementation of the Fisheries

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

Found: administration , and powers conferred by section 36(1)(b) and (c) and section 36(4)(a) and (j) of the Fisheries

Found: Brief overview of the SI (including reserved provision): Under the Fisheries Act 2020, the UK fisheries

Found: 450 tonnes •Equal share for in -year quota transfers •Application process for West of Scotland cod AQ Fisheries

Found: Allegations and offences investigated under The Fisheries Act 2020: EIR release

Found: Underpinning this approach are: • Fisheries Management Plans - the Scottish Government, in line with the Fisheries

Found: In distributing fishing opportunities, these rules are in compliance with section 25 of the Fisheries

Found: In distributing fishing opportunities, these rules are in compliance with section 25 of the Fisheries

Found: economic objective for natural capital; • Scotland’s National Marine Plan; • Joint Fisheries Statement and Fisheries

Found: In addition, the Fisheries Act 2020 amends the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 to allow Scottish Ministers

Found: The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 has been amended by the Fisheries Act 2020 to allow Scottish Ministers

Found: capital; • help deliver Scotland’s National Marine Plan; • support the Joint Fisheries Statement and Fisheries

Found: Ecosystems to Extreme Climatic Events • Scotland’s National Marine Plan; • Joint Fisheries Statement and Fisheries

Found: The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 has been amended by the Fisheries Act 2020 to allow Scottish Ministers

Found: In addition, the Fisheries Act 2020 amends the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 to allow Scottish Ministers

Found: The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 has been amended by the Fisheries Act 2020 to allow Scottish

Found: underlying principle which reflects national and international commitments and objectives, including the UK Fisheries

Found: Act 20203, building on our approach to improve sea fisheries compliance and our spatial evidence

Found: (3) “British sea -fishery officer” means any person who by virtue of section 7 of the Sea Fisheries

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

Found: Act 2020.

Found: consultation, associated impact assessments, requirements for the distribution of quota as set out in the Fisheries

Found: resultant methodology is to be in line with Statutory Obligations (in particular Section 25 of the Fisheries

Found: resultant methodology is to be in line with Statutory Obligations (in particular Section 25 of the Fisheries

Found: resultant methodology is to be in line with Statutory Obligations (in particular Section 25 of the Fisheries

Found: Section 2 - Introduction 1 Fisheries Act 2020 (legislation.gov.uk) 2 Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS

Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last reviewed its policy on the issuing of fishing quotas under the Fisheries Act 2020.

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

All Scottish quota is issued in line with the requirements of the UK Fisheries Act 2020.

On 7 June 2024, the Scottish Government published the outcome of its consultation on the allocation of Additional Quota. Additional Quota is the extra quota the UK receives following EU exit.

As part of Scotland’s Fisheries Management Strategy 2020-2030, the Scottish Government committed to the maintenance of FQA system as the primary method of allocating Exiting Quota (the UK’s established share of quota prior to leaving the EU) following stakeholder feedback.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the allocation of fishing quotas, whether it considers whether an operator aligns with its fair work framework as part of the Scottish Ministers' obligations under section 25 of the Fisheries Act 2020.

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

Section 25 of the UK Fisheries Act 2020 obliges the Scottish Government (and other UK national fisheries authorities) to utilise objective and transparent criteria related to social, environmental and economic factors when allocating quota. It also requires that national fisheries authorities seek to incentivise the use of selective fishing gear and the use of fishing techniques that have a reduced impact on the environment.

The Fair Work First policy applies fair work criteria to grants, other funding and public contracts awarded by and across the public sector. In distributing fishing quota, the Scottish Government is not making an award of a grant, contract or other funding, so this policy is not a direct consideration.

In our recent consultation on the allocation of Additional Quota, we sought views on crew welfare as a criterion for distributing quota. In the consultation outcome report we recognise that the ILO188 Work in Fishing Convention, enforced by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, is the appropriate framework for monitoring crew welfare.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) UK and (b) EU vessels were registered to fish in Scottish waters in each year since 2021.

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

UK commercial fishing licences provide general authority for the registered vessel to fish in the UK EEZ, subject to specific conditions detailed in the licence. The UK Fisheries Act 2020 sets out the ‘equal access objective’, stating that, "access of UK fishing boats to any area within British fishery limits is not affected by- (a) the location of the fishing boat’s home port, or (b) any other connection of the fishing boat, or any of its owners, to any place in the United Kingdom."

UK fishing licences may also be retained as an "entitlement" which means that that there is no active fishing vessel linked to the licence entitlement at that time. That entitlement may be re-activated in the future by being transferred or sold and then attached to an active UK vessel.

The information provided in the following table is the number of "active" UK licences - i.e. where a fishing vessel is linked to the licence - as of 1 January in each year. As noted above, whilst UK fishing licences permit activity in all UK waters, the number of active UK licences is not necessarily representative of UK vessels' fishing activity in Scottish waters.

Wild-caught wrasse are used as cleaner fish to tackle lice in aquaculture facilities. They are caught in creels and landed or sold directly to salmon farms. Data is available for those landed, showing peaks and declines consistent with local extirpation.

Wrasse are associated with rocky reefs and other Priority Marine Features under the Habitats Directive Annex 1, creating a requirement to properly manage the wrasse fishery in or near these sites.

Wrasse are long-lived and territorial predators, with unusual reproductive patterns. This makes them vulnerable to over-catching, and opening a fishery for them without baseline data and a fisheries management plan is inappropriate and against the terms of the 2020 Fisheries Act. Local extirpations affect other wild fish species, both target and non-target. Action was promised to better protect wild wrasse beyond the limited 2021 measures, perhaps in line with better practice in English waters, but nothing has been forthcoming.

Found: without baseline data and a fisheries management plan is inappropriate and against the terms of the 2020 Fisheries