I am very proud to represent a coastal community, and fishing has been an important part of our local economy for a thousand years. My father was a keen fisherman and used to take me out in his boat at the weekend, and I want to preserve this pastime for generations to come. However, I am absolutely aware that our fishing community, and of course the long-term health of the ocean, depend on good and sustainable management of our fisheries.
The UK is a global leader in protecting its ocean and marine life. 37% of UK waters are now covered by Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and are subject to planning and licensing regimes to protect them from damaging activities. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has developed an ambitious programme for assessing sites and implementing byelaws to manage fishing activity in all English offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). 98 MPAs are already in place on our inshore waters to protect sensitive habitats from bottom towed fishing gear. The first four offshore byelaws are now in force and plans are in place to protect all offshore sites by the end of 2024, using powers in the Fisheries Act.
Byelaws are developed using an evidence-led process to determine what measures are required to protect sites. Site-by-site assessments are carried out to tailor management measures and to avoid unnecessary restrictions on fishing. Only fishing activities which could damage the protected features of an MPA, such as trawling on the seabed, require management. I am assured that the MMO and Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities will always manage any fishing activity that is found to be negatively impacting the protected features of MPAs.
Under the Fisheries Act 2020, vessels fishing commercially in UK waters must have a licence to do so. All licences have a set of conditions which specify the area in which fishing is authorised, the time period permitting for fishing, the quantities and description of which species may be caught and the permitted fishing method.
The Fisheries Act enshrines the Government’s commitment to sustainable fishing through its objectives and fisheries statements, which introduce Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) to restore our fish stocks to sustainable levels. The draft Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) commits the UK Government and Devolved Administrations to work together to adopt an ‘ecosystem-based approach’ to fisheries that will underpin a vibrant, profitable fishing industry resilient to climate change.
Anna