Sustainable fisheries enshrined in law as UK leaves the EU
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Legal guarantee that the UK will leave the Common Fisheries Policy
(CFP) Bill creates powers to ensure profitable future for UK
fishing industry with a fairer share of fishing opportunities New
plans for every fish stock to be fished at sustainable limits
Legislation
creating the powers for the UK to operate as an independent coastal
state and manage its fish stocks sustainably outside...Request free trial
Legislation creating the powers for the UK to operate as an
independent coastal state and manage its fish stocks sustainably
outside the EU is being introduced into Parliament today
(29th January 2020).
The introduction of the Fisheries Bill delivers a legal guarantee
the UK will leave the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) at the end of
the Transition Period, in December 2020 - allowing the UK to
control who may fish in our waters, and on what terms, for the
first time since 1973.
The Bill ends current automatic rights for EU vessels to fish in
British waters. In future, access to fish in UK waters will be a
matter for the UK to negotiate and we will decide on the rules
that foreign vessels must follow.
As well as powers to implement new deals negotiated with the EU
and other coastal states, set quotas, fishing opportunities and
days at sea, the Bill includes new measures for Devolved
Governments and a single set of UK-wide fisheries objectives to
ensure that fish stocks, and the marine environment, are better
protected.
Changes to funding rules enabling the UK Government to provide
financial support for the breadth of what is currently funded by
the EU’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, such as training
and port improvements, are also included in the legislation.
Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers said:
“This new Fisheries Bill takes back control of our waters,
enabling the UK to create a sustainable, profitable fishing
industry for our coastal communities, whilst securing the long
term health of British fisheries.
“Leaving the EU’s failed Common Fisheries Policy is one of the
most important benefits of Brexit. It means we can create a
fairer system which will allow marine habitats to thrive, with
new powers to support our fishing sector and conserve our
wonderful Blue Belt at home and abroad.”
Fisheries Minister George Eustice said:
“The Fisheries Bill gives us the powers to implement our own
independent fisheries policy, improve our marine habitats and
make decisions based on the health of our fish stocks not vested
interests.
“For many people in coastal communities, taking back control and
leaving the Common Fisheries Policy is at the heart of getting
Brexit done, and this Bill delivers for the environment,
fishermen and the Union.”
Barrie Deas, Chief Executive of the National Federation of
Fishermen’s Organisations, said:
“The central purpose of the Bill is to give UK Ministers powers
to manage UK fisheries after we leave the Common Fisheries
Policy. We very much welcome that.”
New provisions in the Bill mean the UK will take into account
climate change impacts on its fisheries, with a new objective to
move us towards ‘climate-smart fishing’ in UK waters. Last year
we became the first major economy in the world to pass laws to
end our contribution to global warming by 2050 and the Fisheries
Bill will complement this.
A new legal requirement for all fish stocks to be fished at
sustainable levels is also at the heart of the Bill - delivering
on the Government’s manifesto commitment to ensure there will be
sustainability plans for each fish stock.
The Bill includes powers to ensure fisheries management decisions
are taken strategically, for the benefit of the whole marine
environment. Fisheries management plans will be will be tailored
to the UK’s ‘mixed fisheries’, which have lots of fish stocks
swimming together and where certain fishing practices can have a
significant impact on the marine environment.
The plans will also recognise that many of our fish stocks are
‘shared stocks’ as they will swim in both the UK’s and other
coastal states’ waters. For these stocks, negotiation with other
coastal states is crucial as sustainable catches cannot be
achieved through UK action alone.
The Bill also boosts the Government’s flagship Blue Belt
programme by ensuring the Marine Management Organisation has the
powers it needs to provide advice and assistance on sustainable
fisheries, marine planning, licensing and conservation overseas.
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