The Fisheries Bill, the first major fisheries legislation in nearly
40 years, has passed the House of Lords and has now entered the
House of Commons for further scrutiny.
The flagship legislation, which creates the powers for the UK to
operate as an independent coastal state and manage its fish stocks
sustainably outside the EU, has today (2 July 2020) been introduced
to the House of Commons for its First Reading.
The Bill which passed Third Reading in the Lords on 1 July ends
current automatic rights for EU vessels to fish in British waters.
If access to UK waters for foreign vessels is negotiated, the Bill
will also enable the Fisheries Administrations to ensure that
foreign vessels follow the same rules as UK vessels.
The legislation will ensure that fish stocks, and the marine
environment, are better protected for future generations with new
powers to set UK fishing opportunities and days at sea, new
measures for the Devolved Administrations, as well as a single
set of UK-wide fisheries objectives.
Fisheries Minister said:
“I am encouraged to see the progress of the Fisheries Bill
through Parliament. This Bill offers us the opportunity to set a
gold standard for sustainable fisheries and gives us the powers
to protect our precious fish stocks while enabling our seafood
sector to thrive.
“Now that we have left the EU, we have the opportunity to create
a more resilient and profitable fishing industry, leaving behind
the outdated Common Fisheries Policy.”
In the House of Lords, Lord Gardiner made clear that the Bill
gave the UK the opportunity to develop a vibrant and sustainable
fishing industry and gave the UK the power to strengthen our
protection of the marine environment, whilst providing a healthy
and valuable food source to millions.
The government is now considering carefully the amendments made
during the Bill’s passage in the House of Lords.
The Bill’s provisions on sustainable fishing will be underpinned
by the requirement for the UK government and the Devolved
Administrations to publish a Joint Fisheries Statement to
coordinate fisheries management where appropriate, and Fisheries
Management plans to achieve sustainable stocks.
The Bill will also ensure:
- EU vessels’ automatic access right to fish in UK waters is
removed
- Foreign boats will be required to be licensed to fish in UK
waters and will have to follow the UK’s rules if access to UK
waters is agreed
- Fisheries will be managed sustainably
- The UK fisheries administrations will seek to ensure
increased benefits from fish caught by UK boats in a way that
respects the devolution settlements
- Sensitive marine species, such as dolphins, are protected and
the bycatch of unwanted fish reduced
- The UK fisheries administrations will continue to collect
robust scientific data on fish stocks and shares it to manage
shared stocks sustainably
- UK boats can continue to access any part of UK waters, as
they do now regardless, whether they are registered in England,
Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
