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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she plans to take in collaboration with the devolved administrations to preserve sea bass stocks to ensure that a sustainable recreational angling sector is created throughout the UK.

The conservation of sea bass stocks will be an important issue at the December Council of the European Union fisheries ministers. We are working with the Devolved Administrations to secure the best possible agreement at the Council for both recreational and commercial catchers of sea bass.