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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the (a) prevailing market conditions and (b) trends in the level of input costs for the fishing industry.

Defra is actively monitoring prevailing market conditions by assessing factors such as demand for seafood, price movements across key species, and wider supply chain dynamics, including the effects of seasonality and market access on fishers’ returns.

In parallel, Defra is closely monitoring input costs, in particular changes in diesel prices, and the impact these are having on the operational viability of the UK fishing fleet. Defra is working with other Government departments and industry stakeholders to gather evidence on cost pressures and how these vary across different fleet segments and regions.

Our assessment draws on economic data and analysis from Seafish and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), and considers the interaction between market conditions and input costs, including the extent to which rising costs can be absorbed or passed on through the market.

Defra will continue to work closely with stakeholders to understand how these pressures are evolving and to consider what, if any, measures may be appropriate to support the sector.