May. 24 2024
Source Page: Non-Quota species uptake by UK vessels in EU waters - April 2024Found: For 2024 uptake, it was agreed by both parties at the annual fisheries consultations to employ an interim
Asked by: Lord Jopling (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the declining numbers of salmon in national rivers, especially the River Ure.
Answered by Lord Douglas-Miller - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The assessment of salmon stocks in rivers at a national scale is undertaken by the Environment Agency through a combination of rod catches, automated fish counters and juvenile monitoring programmes.
The focus for salmon stock assessment is focused on the 42 designated principal salmon rivers in England, many of which have significant salmon fisheries still in existence. The River Ure and wider River Ouse catchments are considered to be recovering salmon rivers and consequently assessment of their salmon stock status is primarily based upon angler declared rod catches that provide a useful measure of the improving status of salmon.
May. 23 2024
Source Page: Defra: workforce management information April 2024Found: AA38231297.729999952362594.325300325460.512445286.420000018901175.2399999863=SUM(AE3:AJ3)4792648.390000065345015=SUM(AL3:AM3)=SUM(AN3,AK3)2024AprilCentre for Environment, Fisheries
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support coastal habitats.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Coastal habitats play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide, providing flood defence, supporting fisheries, enhancing water quality, and contributing to biodiversity and well-being.
The Environmental Improvement Plan sets out our focus on enhancing nature in marine and coastal environments, including the steps we are taking to restore and protect marine habitats and marine wildlife.
These include delivering the UK Marine Strategy, which sets our ambition for Good Environmental Status (GES) across our seas. To help achieve GES we have created a series of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to protect and restore our marine biodiversity. We are focused on strengthening the protection of this extensive network of 178 sites covering 40% of English waters, which represents the range of species and habitats found in our seas.
To complement the MPA network, the first three Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) in English waters came into force on 5 July 2023. HPMAs will provide the highest levels of protection in our seas, allowing nature to fully recover to a more natural state and helping the wider ecosystem, including coastal habitats, to thrive.
We actively invest in coastal habitat restoration, allocating significant funding to protect and enhance these vital ecosystems. For example, last year Defra announced a £640,000 funding commitment which is supporting vital restoration and creation of blue carbon habitats in the UK. The Environment Agency’s Restoring Meadow, Marsh and Reef (ReMeMaRe) initiative aims to reverse centuries of coastal habitat decline by restoring seagrass meadows, saltmarsh and native oyster reefs to bring benefits to people and nature.
In February we awarded £25 million funding to 40 schemes around England for improving flood resilience through a new natural flood management programme.
The Government’s £80 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund has supported a range of nature recovery projects across England, some which have included saltmarsh and seagrass restoration. Defra is also funding coastal and marine restoration projects under its flagship £37 million Marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment R&D programme.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Norway concerning that country's announcement that it will start exploratory deep seabed mining in its waters; and what assessment they have made of the impact this would have on wider North-eastern Atlantic fisheries.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK Government has not spoken to the Norwegian government about its decision of 9 January 2024 to consider awarding licences for deep sea mining exploration, and potentially future extraction, on its continental shelf but has taken note of the decision. This area is within Norway's jurisdiction and is not regulated by the International Seabed Authority.
Mentions:
1: None In addition, my right honourable friend the Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries visited the community - Speech Link
May. 22 2024
Source Page: MMO prioritises six vitally important inshore marine protected areas for assessment and managementFound: Conservation Zone (MCZ) – with important habitats for crab and lobster, that support small scale local fisheries
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support cockle fishing communities (a) around the Southport Cockle Bed and (b) in other areas.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Southport Cockle Bed is managed by the North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA). Recognising limited wider fishing opportunities for industry in the North West, the IFCA opened the Penfold cockle fishery this year until 30 April.
Support has been provided to businesses involved in the cockle sector, including introducing improvements to boats, improving health and safety, and increasing the value of cockles through the installation of infrastructure for individual quick freezing through the Defra funded Fisheries and Seafood Scheme.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the sustainability of the cockle fisheries sector.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
A public consultation on a draft Cockle Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) will be launched shortly. FMPs are evidence-based plans that take an eco-system based approach to fisheries management and provide sustainable fisheries for current and future generations. Cockles have been prioritised for an FMP in recognition of their vulnerability to over-exploitation, the economic value of the fishery (currently estimated at an annual value of £10.3 million), and the environmental benefits that cockle stocks bring to habitat health and wider biodiversity. The draft FMP will propose goals and actions for cockle fisheries in English waters to improve the stock and provide social and economic benefits to fishing communities.
May. 21 2024
Source Page: Northern Ireland Executive’s Interim Fiscal FrameworkFound: various non - Barnett elements of the devolved administrations’ block grants, notably for fa rming, fisheries