Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to increase the capacity of the UK’s marine patrol vessels to patrol fishing waters in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Fisheries control and enforcement is a devolved matter. As such, it will continue to be for each Devolved Administration to decide how best to control its waters, and what new arrangements may be needed. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) continues to work closely with the Devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure a coordinated approach to fisheries control and enforcement across UK waters.

In England, the Marine Management Organisation on behalf of DEFRA has assessed the risk of increased illegal fishing when the UK leaves the EU, including under the scenario of doing so without a deal. As such DEFRA have decided to strengthen the allocated resources. This includes an increase to the number of Royal Navy vessels allocated to the task and increased sea time to enhance patrolling capacity at sea.