Key Facts

• The new clause allows sea fish licensing authorities to make arrangements for exercising fisheries or product movement functions on their behalf by another authority.
• Arrangements do not affect the original authority's responsibility for the function.
• Authorities may charge fees considered reasonable for the cost of executing these functions.
• New clause 1 amends section 2(1) of the Fisheries Act 1981.
• New clause 2 inserts a new clause 3B allowing delegation of functions by the Authority.
• New clause 4 requires annual plans on allocation of Scottish levies to be approved by the Scottish committee and published before the start of each financial year.
• New clause 5 mandates the appointment of a committee for Scotland to assist in exercising functions related to the sea fish industry there.
• The Fisheries Bill aims to implement sustainability objectives that account for six out of eight policy goals.
• Two consultations on quota distribution have been published today as part of the commitment made in the 2018 White Paper.
• Government amendment 36 includes a permissive extent clause allowing UK legislation over Crown dependencies if necessary.
• Seafish has provided excellent support and information during the covid pandemic.
• The amendments pre-empt a review of Seafish without addressing its valuable services for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
• Amendment 2 seeks to make environmental sustainability the Bill’s prime objective but is met with concerns about deprioritising other important objectives like precautionary measures.
• Some coastal communities in the south-west could have faced closures due to choke issues if stricter quotas were imposed based on scientific advice alone.
• The consultation proposes a more sophisticated approach than amendment 1.
• Quota donation directly benefits the under-10-metre fleet.
• There is only one UK-registered vessel over 100 metres in length, though concerns exist about foreign vessels like the Margiris.
• Pelagic fishing by supertrawlers takes place within a water column and does not affect seabed features.
• More than 90 inshore MPAs are now protected from destructive fishing methods.
• For every one job created at sea, eight jobs are created on land.
• Greenpeace investigation reveals supertrawlers spent nearly 3,000 hours fishing in protected UK waters last year.
• Labour's amendments aim to bring investment back to seaside towns and ports.
• Labour’s amendment 3 aims to support a ban on supertrawlers fishing in marine protected areas.
• The amendment is supported by Greenpeace, the Marine Conservation Society, Greener UK and the British Ports Association.
• Voting for the amendment would protect marine habitats and ensure the longevity of the fishing industry.
• The common fisheries policy was seen as a failure by many in the House.
• EU vessels caught 383,000 tonnes in UK waters in 2015, generating £484 million.
• UK vessels caught only 111,000 tonnes in EU member states’ waters, raising £114 million in the same year.
• The fishing sector employs over 25,000 people in the UK, with around 18,000 working in fish processing.
• Over 80% of fisheries employ fewer than five people.
• The Scottish Government called the CFP “the EU’s most unpopular and discredited policy”.
• Fishing communities fear that Brexit promises of control over UK waters have not been fulfilled.
• There is a call to devolve control of Seafish levies to Scottish Ministers.
• A commitment was made at the Smith Commission to explore revising arrangements for seafood and red meat levies.
• A consultation on the distribution of quotas between devolved authorities has been launched.
• New clause 3 aims to mark a useful first step towards giving effect to commitments made in the Smith commission report.
• The Scottish Government is addressing concerns about Scottish salmon fishermen.
• The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 include measures to improve safety on fishing vessels.
• Industry representatives welcome the removal of certain amendments made in Committee stage.
• The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations supports sustainability objectives but believes these should not take primacy over other fisheries objectives.
• Paul Trebilcock from the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation advocates for a balanced approach to conservation and effective fisheries management.
• Carmichael mentions new clause 12 which addresses enforcement of regulations and licensing requirements.
• There is no current power for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to enforce these regulations in the exclusive economic zone.
• The Scottish fisheries protection agency enforces licensing.
• Amendment 36 introduces a backstop power over dependent territories, raising constitutional concerns.
• The issue of fishing rights uncertainty stems from decisions made by former and current Prime Ministers.
• A Spanish gillnetter, Pesorsa Dos, attempted to muscle out a Shetland fleet vessel named Alison Kay in UK waters.
• The incident is under scrutiny due to the use of sub judice rules and legal jurisdiction issues.
• The Bill aims to give control back to UK fishing communities and devolved Governments.
• Labour amendments call on the Government to support neglected coastal communities economically.
• Supertrawlers spent over 5,500 hours fishing in protected marine areas in the first six months of 2020.
• The Government is collecting evidence on remote electronic monitoring.
• There are plans for an increased landing requirement of up to 70%.
• DEFRA has launched three consultations today: strengthening the economic link for English licensed fishing vessels, fair distribution of new fishing opportunities among nations, and proposals for England’s share distribution.
• Concerns have been raised over resurfacing scallop wars in the English Channel.
• 58% to 68% of fish stocks in UK waters are now at sustainable levels.
• Edwin Poots MLA, Northern Ireland's Fisheries Minister, supports devolved flexibility in fisheries management tools.
• REM (remote electronic monitoring) should be considered with the fishing community rather than imposed upon them.
• The total allowable catch in ICES Area VIIa has been managed according to maximum sustainable yield principles.
• Amendment 42 offers more power to Northern Ireland but is supported for further devolution similar to Scotland and Wales.
• The Bill is supported by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation.
• About 70% of the fish caught and landed in UK waters is caught by foreign vessels, compared to 84% in Norway and 95% in Iceland.
• The speaker criticizes a speech from Deidre Brock for being negative and misleading.
• The hon. Member for Moray mentions that his constituency voted for Brexit.
• The coastal communities on the coastline of Moray provide opportunities for fishing.
• Scotland voted 62% to remain in the European Union but has decided to leave.
• The UK will exit the transition period and the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) at the end of the year.
• The shellfish trade in Angus supports many jobs.
• Exporting into the EU from January will require an export health certificate, validated catch certificate, storage document if stored, and processing statement if treated.
• Direct landings into the EU should be seen as a sub-optimal opportunity compared to national landings.
• The Bill is described as a first step towards supporting fishermen after Brexit.
• Prentis supports direct-from-the-boat sales, emphasizing fairness for fisherman's earnings.
• Amendment 2 focuses on sustainability, particularly concerning bass fishing and coastal communities.
• Amendment 3 deals with supertrawlers; Prentis is reassured by Ministers' control over licences.
• The consultation closing date for amendments is 10 November.
• The new clauses aim to enhance transparency in fisheries management.
• For every one job at sea, there are seven to ten jobs on shore in Scotland's fishing industry.
• Stirling University is involved in world-leading research in aquaculture and fisheries.
• The last working fishing village in the Province is Portavogie.
• There were once hundreds of boats and two fish processing factories; now there are 60 boats remaining.
• Amendment 42 provides powers to DAERA for managing fishing activities in the Northern Ireland offshore region for conservation purposes.
• The EU's common fisheries policy has resulted in eight times as much fish being caught by EU vessels in UK waters compared to UK vessels in other member states' waters between 2012-2016.
• Greenpeace reports that industrial fishing vessels spent nearly 3,000 hours last year fishing in parts of UK waters that are supposed to be protected.
• The speaker advocates for a higher percentage of fish landing in UK ports than the amendment suggests.
• South-west fisheries are up for the challenge of working with a post-common fisheries policy landscape.
• Newlyn fishermen have reduced fish bycatch significantly through innovative practices like the cod-end.
• The Bill includes a strong and diverse set of sustainability-focused objectives.
• Cornwall’s fishermen seek engaged and meaningful co-management of fisheries.
• Fishing is a major part of tourism on Ynys Môn.
• Sion Riley, a Royal Navy veteran, started Holyhead Shellfish during the lockdown.
• Môn CF charity helped Sion access funds for his boat, Pan Arctic.
• The Fisheries Bill grants equal access to UK waters for all UK vessels.
• Devolved Administrations will receive new powers under the bill.
• A joint fisheries statement will set out how common objectives will be met.
• The REAF (Renaissance of East Anglian Fisheries) report was launched in Parliament last year.
• Six out of eight objectives in the Bill relate to environmental sustainability.
• The transition period for UK waters ends on December 31, 2021.
• The Bill allows the UK to manage its fishing industry independently of EU directives.
• Fishing and fish processing industries employ 24,000 people and contribute £1.4 billion to the economy.
• A Greenpeace investigation found that in 2019, 25 super-trawlers spent nearly 3,000 hours fishing in UK marine protected areas.
• Government amendment 36 seeks to give the UK Government legislative power over the Crown dependencies.
• The Isle of Man has consented, but Guernsey and Jersey have declined.
• There is a long-standing constitutional convention that requires consent from the Crown dependencies for legislation.
• The government will consult on the economic link for four weeks.
• New policy will be announced by the end of the year and implemented in 2022.
• £228 million invested through the coastal communities fund.
• Foreign vessels will not be able to pulse trawl by the end of this year.
• The Special Area refers to waters between the United Kingdom and the Faroe Islands.
• Amendments made under the Legislation (Wales) Act 2019 include provisions related to fishing, fisheries, and fish health in Welsh legislation beyond territorial waters.
• New clauses are proposed for consideration in the Fisheries Bill.
• Government amendment made: 4, page 12, lines 33 to 37 are removed.
• Amendment relocates the definition of “fishery products” from clause 37 and Schedule 8 into clause 49.
• Definition of “sea fish licensing authority” is relocated into clause 49 for general application in the Bill.
• The amendment would allow fisheries regulatory powers to extend to the Channel Islands or Isle of Man.
• Government amendments provide specific commencement dates for various sections and schedules.
• Amendments to the Lobsters and Crawfish (Prohibition of Fishing and Landing) (Scotland) Order 1999.
• Changes made to The Sea Fish (Specified Sea Areas) (Regulation of Nets and Other Fishing Gear) (Scotland) Order 2000.
• Updates to The Sharks, Skates and Rays (Prohibition of Fishing, Trans-shipment and Landing) (Scotland) Order 2012 including removal of specific boat definitions.
• Amendments to The Regulation of Scallop Fishing (Scotland) Order 2017 regarding interpretation and prohibited landing sizes.
• Changes to The Specified Crustaceans (Prohibition on Landing, Sale and Carriage) (Scotland) Order 2017 concerning the removal of prohibitions for foreign fishing boats in certain waters.
• The amendments clarify relationships between sea fish licensing authorities.
• Government amendment 26 removes the definition of “sea fish licensing authority” from Schedule 3.
• A technical amendment (Government amendment 29) removes ambiguity regarding words revoked by paragraph 18(2)(a).
• Amendments include Government amendment 30, page 86, lines 38-42.
• Amendment protects functions of sea fish licensing authorities in paragraph 14(4) of Schedule 8.
• Definitions are inserted into clause 49 to apply generally throughout the Bill.
• Amendments made to provide for the affirmative procedure in charging fees for permits.
• An order can remain in force for up to 12 months if not consulted upon before making.
• The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland is given power to make orders regarding sea fisheries resources.
• New sections 137E and 137G are inserted into the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.
• Government amendment 54 makes consequential amendments.
• Government amendment 55 repeals provisions of Council Regulation (EU) 2020/123 concerning cod fishing in the North Sea.
• Government amendment 56 amends the Sea Fishing (EU Recording and Reporting Requirements) (Scotland) Order 2010 and the Sea Fishing (EU Control Measures) (Scotland) Order 2015.