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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the (a) Marine Maritime Organisation and (b) Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Association to enforce compliance of fishing regulations in relation to sea bass fishing by commercial netters.

There are eleven ongoing formal MMO investigations into bass related infringements. Some IFCAs are also currently undertaking work to introduce netting restriction byelaws in their Districts, intended to protect a wide variety of marine resources including juvenile fish, which will include bass.