Select committee: Environmental Audit Committee
Conclusion 48
Sixth Report - The UK and the Arctic Environment
Published 13 Oct 2023
Paragraph 298
Environmental Audit Committee All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The effects of climate change are altering the composition of marine ecosystems in the Arctic. Fish stocks are becoming more distributed as Arctic species move further north to colder water. These changes offer opportunities for UK fisheries and ultimately UK consumers of fish, but these opportunities must only be pursued if it can be shown that they do not undermine the interests of Indigenous Peoples or the environment: we received evidence that many Arctic fish species are already in decline as a result of environmental change.
From: Environmental Audit Committee, Sixth Report - The UK and the Arctic Environment (HC 1141), paragraph 298, 13 October 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 28 December 2023 (deadline 13 December 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government's response agrees with some recommendations, partially agrees with others, and disagrees with the proposals for an Arctic Envoy, an additional research ship, a dedicated coordinating body and a national Arctic research plan.
- On ministerial coordination, the government agrees and says it is "looking to build on this by establishing a Ministerial group" of Ministers whose portfolios concern the Arctic, which "would meet periodically".
- It disagrees with appointing an Arctic Envoy, saying responsibility "best sits with" the Minister for the Polar Regions in the FCDO, and disagrees with a strategic national Arctic research plan because it "would not add significant value".
- On research ships, it disagrees with an additional vessel, stating that total research time available for Arctic work in any given year is "likely to be 45–50 days" for the RRS Sir David Attenborough, and points to other NOC ships and partnerships with other countries.
- On fisheries, it agrees and is "committed to joining CAOFA at the earliest possible opportunity". On deep-sea mining it partially agrees, supporting a moratorium on exploitation licences at the ISA.