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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to negotiate a zero total allowable catch for roundnose grenadier (a) in the EU/UK negotiations and (b) at the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission.

Scientific advice received from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea underpins the UK position when negotiating sustainable total allowable catches (TACs), including those for roundnose grenadier. Currently the UK holds a small TAC allocation for incidental bycatch and does not actively target the stock. We are committed to restoring stocks to healthy conditions, including taking a precautionary approach where necessary. This commitment is confirmed in the Fisheries Act 2020 and will inform our approach to deep sea species in both the UK EU bilateral negotiations for 2023/24 and our representation at the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission.