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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for how many hours were at-sea fisheries patrols deployed in English waters in each month of 2021; and what was the total cost of those deployments.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) employs a risk-based, intelligence-led operational model to deliver surveillance and assurance capability at sea. At-sea inspections are just one of a range of tools deployed by the MMO as part of its presence and deterrence strategy to prevent illegal fishing activities in English waters. Close surveillance at sea, hailing vessels to assure their activities as well as maintaining high visibility in areas where the risk of illegal fishing was highest has been effective in deterring unauthorised vessels fishing in English waters.

Between 1 January and 24 June 2021, a total of 228 vessels have been inspected at sea in English waters by MMO, the Royal Navy and Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities. Of the 228 inspections, 131 EU vessels were inspected, of which 15 took place inside the 12 nautical mile limit and 116 took place outside the limit. Of the 97 UK vessels that were inspected, 51 took place inside the 12 nautical mile limit and 46 took place outside the limit.

The monthly breakdown including the volume of inspections, hours deployed and the total cost for at sea surveillance presence was: