Key Facts

• Charles Walker apologised for the procedural mistake.
• The Committee was adjourned early due to the confusion caused by the mistake.
• New clause 2 is being rerun to correct the oversight.
• New clauses amend the Fisheries Act 1981.
• Authority must prepare an annual plan for allocating Scottish levies before each financial year.
• Committee appointed under paragraph 16(A1) of Schedule 1 is to assist in exercising functions related to Scotland.
• Charles Walker raises an issue about misleading safety advice from Seafish.
• The faulty video advised incorrect lifejacket practice and has been removed.
• A maritime information note is requested to inform fishers about the correction.
• New Clause 10 would place a duty on fisheries policy authorities to co-operate.
• The clause allows the sharing of information among fisheries policy authorities.
• Without such a duty, there could be different regulations set by various fisheries authorities post-EU exit.
• New clause 11 relates to highly protected marine areas for England.
• The UN’s oceans treaty seeks to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030, including 30% of UK waters.
• Greenpeace revealed that supertrawlers spent over 5,500 hours fishing in MPAs in the first six months of 2020.
• The new clause applies to all areas of the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone except Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
• According to Greenpeace estimates, 12.7 million tonnes of plastic enter oceans annually, equivalent to one truckload per minute.
• Up to 20% of fishing gear is estimated to be lost at sea in the EU.
• New Clause 13 requires annual reporting to Parliament on the Government’s policy regarding water patrolling and fisheries licence enforcement.
• The clause mandates consultations with Scottish Ministers, Welsh Ministers, and Northern Ireland department before making statements.
• If resources are insufficient, a strategy must be published within 30 days.
• The Secretary of State would establish an Expert Advisory Council on Fisheries.
• The Council shall consist of representatives from various sectors including fisheries policy authorities, inshore fisheries, fishing industry, environmental organisations, and local government.
• Annual assessments must be published within 12 months after the section comes into force.
• New Clause 15 aims to promote co-operatives within the fishing industry in England.
• Financial assistance can be provided through grants, loans, guarantees, or other forms.
• Organisations must meet certain criteria to be recognised as fishing co-operatives.
• The new clause requires the Secretary of State to publish a strategy within one year.
• Consultation must include representatives from Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Ireland governments, fishing industry representatives, and other relevant parties.
• Seafish has developed materials to improve understanding of employment opportunities in seafood.
• England is engaged with Seafood 2040's strategic framework for training and skills.
• The public sector spends £2.4 billion annually on food and catering services.
• 80% of British fish is exported.
• Recovering all UK fish stocks would allow for a 30% increase in landed fish, creating an estimated 10,000 jobs.
• Only half of hospitals were meeting basic food standards according to a 2017 Department of Health and Social Care report.
• The new clause requires annual reports on the commercial health and economic sustainability of UK distant waters fishing fleet.
• The report must cover boats over 24 metres operating outside UK fishery limits.
• Reporting would be required on approximately 200 UK vessels.
• The new clause would require Ministers to produce a report setting out how much fish caught in UK waters is landed in foreign ports.
• Professor Richard Barnes from Lincoln University submitted evidence highlighting that establishing fish as a public asset could create opportunities for better management of the resource.
• Conservative MPs have previously voted down Labour's amendments aiming to increase jobs in coastal communities by favouring landing fish in British ports.
• The new clause addresses challenges such as demand disruption, supply chain issues, price collapses, and labour shortages.
• Many small fishers struggled to adapt due to unchanged quota allocations during lockdowns.
• A £10 million fund for England’s fishing sector was deemed insufficient by some stakeholders.
• Only 36% of UK ports are confident about their business outlook over the next 12 months.
• New Clause 20 seeks to mandate a report on coronavirus impacts on the fishing industry.
• The report would assess effects on workforce and supply availability of fisheries products.
• The Government is concerned that the new clause duplicates ongoing work.
• New clause 21 would require all fish products offered for retail to be labelled with origin, catch method, production details.
• The labelling will help identify sustainably caught or produced food goods.
• Labour’s regulation applies to all fisheries products sold in retail and catering.
• The UK will continue to label and market fish products as per EU regulation 1379/2013 on a common organisation of markets in fisheries.
• The Department is considering ways to strengthen labelling rules through consultations post-transition period.
• No immediate changes are planned without careful consideration.
• The Fisheries Bill has been moved to its next stage after debate and amendments.
• Charles Walker thanked committee members, officials, and the Clerk for their contributions during the process.