Scotland to get new fishery powers

MICHAEL Gove today unveiled a Fisheries Bill in Parliament which includes giving Scottish ministers considerable new powers over how to control fishing after Brexit.
The Environment Secretary formally introduced long awaited legislation that the UK needs to operate as an independent coastal state after leaving the EU.
For the first time since 1973, when Britain joined what was then the Common Market, the Fisheries Bill will enable the UK to control who may fish in its 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 its 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.
• Setting fishing opportunities – by proposing powers to ensure that the UK can set its own fishing quotas 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 likes of Scotland’s devolved government (along with those of England, Wales and Northern Ireland) to protect the waters around Scottish shores.
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.
These include preserving UK vessels’ right to fish across the four zones of UK waters and creating a consistent approach to managing access of foreign vessels.
Gove 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 new legislation also provides powers to reform fisheries rules. To ensure legal continuity, the EU (Withdrawal) Act transferred Common Fisheries Policy 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 the UK’s 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.
• Powers to tender additional English quotas.
Picture: Environment Secretary Michael Gove