Legislation creating the powers the UK needs
to operate as an independent coastal state after leaving the EU
is being introduced into Parliament today (25 October
2018).
For the first time since 1973, the Fisheries
Bill will enable the UK to control who may fish in our waters and
on what terms.
The Bill also gives the UK the power to
implement new deals negotiated with the EU and with other coastal
States and manage fisheries more effectively and sustainably
in future.
At its heart the Bill delivers on the UK
government’s commitment to sustainable fishing and marine
conservation as set out in the 25-Year Environment
Plan by:
-
Controlling access –
by ending current automatic rights for EU vessels to fish in UK
waters. In future, access to fish in UK waters will be a
matter for the UK to negotiate and we will decide on the
terms – foreign vessels would
have to follow our rules. These negotiations with the EU are
continuing and the Bill will provide us with the powers to
implement the
agreement.
-
Setting fishing opportunities – by
proposing powers to ensure that the UK can set its own fishing
quota and days at sea, which it will negotiate as an
independent coastal State. As now, the UK government will
consult the Devolved Administrations.
-
Protecting the marine environment – by
ensuring fisheries management decisions are taken strategically
for the benefit of the whole marine environment. The Bill
extends powers to the Marine Management Organisation and the
Devolved Administrations to protect our seas.
The new legislation also proposes ways in
which the UK government and the Devolved Administrations will
work together to adopt common approaches to fisheries management
in certain areas - including preserving UK vessels’ right to fish
across the four zones of UK waters and creating a consistent
approach to managing access of foreign vessels. The four
fisheries Administrations will set out in a joint statement how
they will work together to achieve the
Bill’s sustainability objectives.
Environment Secretary said:
“This new Fisheries Bill will allow us to
create a sustainable, profitable fishing industry for all of the
UK. It will regenerate coastal communities, take back
control of our waters and, through better conservation
measures, allow our precious marine environment to thrive.
“The Common Fisheries Policy has damaged
the UK’s fishing industry and our precious fish
stocks. The Bill will deliver a sustainable fishing
industry, with healthy seas and a fair deal for UK
fishermen.”
The Bill also provides powers to reform
fisheries rules. To ensure legal continuity, the EU (Withdrawal)
Act transferred CFP rules into UK law. This Bill allows
government to amend fisheries legislation to respond to
scientific advice and innovation quickly - something the CFP
failed to do - and to meet our international obligations.
In addition, the Fisheries
Bill introduces powers to create new schemes in England
to help seize the opportunities of Brexit. These include:
-
a new scheme to help the fishing industry comply with
the landing obligation to end the wasteful
discarding of fish, and
-
powers to tender additional English
quota.
