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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 September 2022 to Question 49115 on Fisheries: Quotas, if he will take steps to ensure that his Department does not set Total Allowable Catches limits which are in excess of those founded on available scientific advice.

The United Kingdom advocates an approach towards setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) which is founded on the best available scientific advice and that will maintain or rebuild sustainable fish stocks and fisheries. For a number of target stocks a further key consideration when setting the TACs is their interaction with other stocks caught in the same mixed fishery. Therefore, we recognise the need to minimise unwanted bycatch and maintain stocks at sustainable levels.