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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support the fishing industry in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the rest of the UK.

Leaving the EU will mean the UK will become an independent coastal state for the first time in 40 years. The UK will be able to control access to UK waters and secure a fairer share of fishing opportunities, for the benefit of the whole of the UK fishing industry, including Northern Ireland.

Our vision for future fisheries policy is set out in the Fisheries White Paper: Sustainable Fisheries for Future Generations. The Fisheries Bill provides the powers necessary to manage our fisheries as an independent coastal state.

On 10 December 2018, the Secretary of State announced £37.2 million of extra funding for the UK seafood sector for projects approved during 2019 and 2020 to boost the industry as we become an independent coastal state. In line with the existing allocation of European Maritime and Fisheries Fund funds, £3.6 million of this additional funding will be allocated to Northern Ireland.