My Lords, after the end of the fisheries adjustment period set out in the trade and co-operation agreement, European Union access to UK waters, and vice versa, become a matter for annual renegotiation, as is typical between coastal states. We know that the EU wants a new multiannual access agreement. We will listen to what it has to say and will work tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome for the UK economy and coastal communities.
My Lords, there have been alarming reports in the press that our European friends seem intent on securing and even improving their access to our exclusive economic zone fisheries ahead of any negotiation of other issues. Can the Minister confirm that this Government will not only defend but substantially increase the quota position of our fishermen in our waters ahead of the 26 June deadline?
Clearly, as a Government, we will always push for the best opportunities for our fishers and the fishery industry. We would like to see long-term strategies to provide the industry with greater stability, which is important to it. At the same time, it is important that we always follow scientific advice when developing negotiations and catch limits.
My Lords, is the Minister aware that, last week in the other place, the Conservative shadow Environment Minister admitted that the previous Government’s negotiations failed our fisheries? Does she agree that a rollover of the current system will fail them again? Can she tell the House what consideration the Government are giving to proposals from the Liberal Democrats to roll out a multiyear quota system that would help the industry to plan for the future and stop the current cliff edge?
As I just mentioned, we need long-term strategies to give greater stability to the fishing sector. We are also very keen that we develop our policy in this area by working with the industry and talking to fishers and their representatives, so that they have direct input into how we move forward and that we understand, from their perspective, how best we can support them.
My Lords, given the overriding importance of reaching an early agreement with the EU on defence and security, does the Minister agree that the right way to handle the issue of fisheries with the EU at this stage is to use the 19 May EU-UK summit to agree to a joint commitment to find a mutually agreeable solution on fisheries within a particular time well ahead of the 26 June deadline?
As I made quite clear, we intend to negotiate with the EU in the best interests of the fishing industry and to protect our fishing communities. However, due to the nature of the current negotiations regarding the EU reset, I am not in a position to give any further information about what we discussed at those meetings.
Does the Minister share my concern that fishers have lost 10% of their grounds through energy use, particularly through the Great British Energy Bill? How does she intend to address this spatial squeeze and ensure that the fisheries’ grounds loss is not permanent but will be compensated?
I am sure the noble Baroness is aware—because we have talked about it in relation to other issues with Defra—that we are working closely with other departments in this area, including DESNZ, to address exactly the kinds of issues she raises. I will go back to the department and talk to my colleague the Fisheries Minister, Daniel Zeichner, specifically about the point that she just raised.
My Lords, I am sure the Minister knows that we have French and Danish fishing fleets not only fishing in our waters, as per the agreement, but bottom trawling in our marine protected areas. Are the Government going to start protecting those marine protected areas, or shall we call them something else?
The Government are looking with different groups and industry to increase protections across MPAs and at the best way to move that forward. Around 100 of our MPAs have by-laws which are in place to protect designated species and habitats from fishing gear that we know is damaging, including bottom trawling. As I have said before, we are looking at how we can move forward in this area.
My Lords, the Fisheries Minister is looking at better matching the fish we catch in UK waters with what we eat as a nation. Given that the Government spend more than £5 billion on food procurement, can the Minister confirm that they are doing everything possible to support UK fishers and farmers in their procurement?
We have said before in the House that we intend to hugely increase local procurement of food by government departments, hospitals, prisons, schools and so on. Clearly, fish is part of that, as is locally produced food from our farms. We are very keen to move that forward at pace and are currently looking at how best to do that.