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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to close English waters to industrial sand eel fishing before the start of the 2024 fishing season.

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea has recently published its response to a technical request on ecosystem considerations in the provision of single stock advice for forage fish species. Defra is presently assessing that response, alongside other evidence, and responses to our public consultation on sandeel management. I will announce my decision in the new year.