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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Department is taking to ensure fisheries management within Marine Protected Areas supports the achievement of Good Environmental Status for biodiversity, sea-floor integrity and marine food webs.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are protected at designation by the marine planning and licensing regimes. In England 60% of our MPAs already have fisheries byelaws in place. Last year, the Marine Management Organisation consulted last year on byelaws to restrict damaging fishing in a further 42 MPAs. These proposals cover 30,000 km2 of English waters and will contribute to achieving Good Environmental Status. Ministers will make decisions in due course.