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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on the discard of fish which can no longer be discarded lawfully at sea on land, and the potential utilisation of such fish; and if she will make a statement.

One of the most significant changes in the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the introduction of a landing obligation which prohibits the discarding of fish.

The Government believes that fishermen should be able to maximise the value of all the catch they land. Fish that can go to human consumption routes will be the most profitable. The industry organisation Seafish has led work into why certain fish species are discarded, how they can be brought to market and so drive value for fishermen.

Fish that are undersize (below Minimum Conservation Reference Size) can be directed to non-direct human consumption markets such as fish meal, fish oil, bait, pet food, food additives, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and digestion. We are currently working with different parts of the fishing industry to ensure they can access these markets and to help them find practical solutions to the challenges of managing undersize catch onshore. Information on this will be issued to the industry in the autumn.