The Fisheries Bill

The Fisheries Bill faces its Second Reading in Parliament today. This flagship legislation is the first major fisheries legislation to enter Parliament in nearly 40 years and it seizes on the opportunities that brings and makes clear the government’s intentions to continue to operate on the world stage as a leading, responsible independent coastal state.  This is vital for the future Cornwall's fleet and those communities which depend upon it.

The Bill ends current automatic rights for EU vessels to fish in British waters. If access to UK waters for foreign vessels is negotiated, the Bill will also enable the Fisheries Administrations to ensure that foreign vessels follow the same rules as UK vessels.

The legislation will ensure that fish stocks, and the marine environment, are better protected for future generations with new powers to set UK fishing opportunities and days at sea, new measures for the Devolved Administrations, as well as single set of UK-wide fisheries objectives.

Underpinning everything in the Bill is commitment to sustainability, ensuring healthy seas for future generations of fishermen. This Bill introduces new fisheries management plans which will allow a holistic, sustainable approach to be taken when managing our fisheries. The Bill includes new powers to protect the marine environment in England, Wales, and Scotland, and powers to implement the technical measures necessary to manage fishing activity in UK waters effectively.

The Bill establishes UK-wide fisheries objectives, and a Joint Fisheries Statement which will set out policies to achieve these objectives. This will provide more transparency for our fisheries management policies than was seen under the Common Fisheries Policy. This framework recognises that fisheries is devolved, but each Administration agrees the common objectives that our fisheries management policies must collectively or individually deliver.

Some constituents have recently got in touch expressing their concern regarding amendments to the Bill made in the House of Lords. Whilst I agree with the spirit of the amendments, all four concern to matters which the government is already committed or has the legal powers to enact already; and all have issues with how they interact with the devolution settlements. The government has made clear that it intends to overturn the amendments at Committee stage which I welcome.

The Bill will also ensure:

EU vessels’ automatic access right to fish in UK waters is removed

Foreign boats will be required to be licensed to fish in UK waters and will have to follow the UK’s rules if access to UK waters is agreed.

Fisheries will be managed sustainably.

The UK fisheries administrations will seek to ensure increased benefits from fish caught by UK boats in a way that respects the devolution settlements.

Sensitive marine species, such as dolphins, are protected and the bycatch of unwanted fish reduced.

The UK fisheries administrations will continue to collect robust scientific data on fish stocks and shares it to manage shared stocks sustainably.

UK boats can continue to access any part of UK waters, as they do now regardless, whether they are registered in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

If you want to get in touch with me regarding the Bill or any other matter, then please do not hesitate to contact me:

cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk