Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Coastal State Fisheries Negotiations: Quota Share

Thursday 22 July 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government secured fishing opportunities of around 628,000 tonnes of quota for 2021, an increase of approximately 55,000 tonnes from the previous year.
  • Government is developing a negotiating mandate for the next round of Coastal State fisheries negotiations after briefings with stakeholders.
  • Foreign vessels fishing in British waters are required to obtain a licence and declare their catch when entering or leaving British waters.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Bowie Con West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question stems from the ongoing negotiations where British fishermen seek to maximise their fishing opportunities. There is concern over previous decisions not aligning with industry needs, particularly for different sectors like demersal.

Question

What steps he is taking to maximise the share of quota for British fishermen in the next round of Coastal State fisheries negotiations. The decision not to come to an agreement with Norway was met with mixed reactions across the industry. While the pelagic sector benefits, there have been challenges for the demersal sector. Can my right hon Friend give a commitment that the Government are determined to deliver honesty of opportunity for all sectors in the industry?

Answer from George Eustice

For 2021, the Government have secured fishing opportunities of around 628,000 tonnes of quota across all annual negotiations, approximately 55,000 tonnes more than last year. We held briefings with stakeholders this month and are developing our negotiating mandate for the next round. The pelagic sector has seen an increase in mackerel quota by around 5,800 tonnes compared to the previous year. In England, we have given a significant uplift to the inshore under-10 metre fleet with additional quota this year. We are also in final stages of negotiations on annual exchanges with the EU that will help the white fish sector.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific commitment for all sectors beyond mentioning some benefits and ongoing discussions.

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Q2 Andrew Bowie Con West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

There are concerns in the industry about mixed reactions to not reaching an agreement with Norway, particularly affecting the demersal sector. The question seeks clarity on government's commitment towards all affected sectors.

Question

Can my right hon Friend give a commitment that the Government are determined to deliver honesty of opportunity for all sectors in the industry—demersal as well as pelagic?

Answer from George Eustice

The Government have secured significant quota increases and are working on developing a mandate that will help various fishing sectors. For the pelagic sector, there was an increase in mackerel quota by around 5,800 tonnes compared to the previous year. In England, we have given additional quota this year for the inshore under-10 metre fleet. We are also concluding negotiations with the EU on annual exchanges that will benefit the white fish sector.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a direct commitment but outlined various actions supporting different sectors without explicitly addressing all sectors equally.

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Q3 Luke Pollard Labour (Co-op) Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

There is frustration in the industry over negotiations with the EU failing to secure real-term quota increases. There are also concerns about lack of catch data from EU boats operating in British waters.

Question

The fishing industry knows that the Government have failed to negotiate real-terms quota data with the European Union, and it also knows that the Government have no idea—no idea—how much non-quota species are being caught by EU boats in our waters. With the shellfish ban on exports and British fishers being harassed for catch data they do not require from EU boats, where in the Tory manifesto did it say that we would actually give away control of our waters, and where is the plan?

Answer from George Eustice

The Government have required all foreign vessels to obtain a licence for fishing in British waters. We track vessel locations through monitoring data, and methodologies are being developed so that they must declare their catch when entering or leaving British waters.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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