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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of introducing an extended producer responsibility scheme for fishing equipment.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has been assessed, including through a study commissioned by Defra and the devolved governments, available here, which indicated EPR could be a complex and costly intervention.

Defra officials have previously engaged industry stakeholders and work closely with devolved governments, with discussions covering end-of-life fishing gear management in ports and harbours, as well as wider marine litter issues in line with the Joint Fisheries Statement.

The UK is committed to working with international partners to agree a new global treaty to end plastic pollution, including provisions addressing fishing and aquaculture gear across its full lifecycle.