Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Accepted in Part
In response to this report, Defra should provide the Committee with a clear written account...
Recommendation
In response to this report, Defra should provide the Committee with a clear written account of its engagement with the fishing industry following the release of the December 2025 UK–EU fisheries written record. This should set out the dates and stakeholders involved, how the new technical measures and deadlines were communicated and whether the flexibility around the 1 June 2026 implementation date was explicitly conveyed. The department should also urgently publish a confirmed implementation timeline for the new technical measures for vessels operating in UK waters, alongside detailed steps it is taking to support industry to prepare for and implement the new requirements. (Recommendation, Paragraph 33)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government describes past engagement with industry, including meetings and newsletters, but does not provide the specific "clear written account" requested by the committee, including dates and explicit communication on flexibility. It commits to building on this approach for future technical measures in the Channel and Irish Sea, ensuring clear communication as implementation timelines are confirmed.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted in Part
31. Following the end of the negotiations, Defra met with industry to discuss the outcomes, including informing industry of the licence conditions in the Celtic Sea and their implementation date. Defra also sent a newsletter and a stakeholder bulletin which contained guidance on the changes. Working with the MMO, we will build on this approach for the Channel and Irish Sea technical measures, ensuring that stakeholders are engaged and supported through clear communication as implementation timelines are confirmed and in a manner that ensures commercial fishing businesses have time to adapt prior to their implementation.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗