Committee publication · Correspondence · 1 July 2026
Letter from the Under Secretary of State for Water and Flooding responding to the Chair's letter relating to bottom trawling, 29 June
Summary
The Under Secretary of State for Water and Flooding responds to the Environmental Audit Committee's June inquiry about the Marine Management Organisation's consultation on managing fishing activities in England's offshore Marine Protected Areas. The government confirms it received 24,500 consultation responses and is reviewing MMO proposals, committing to introduce fisheries byelaws by end of 2026 as part of its Environmental Improvement Plan.
Key findings
- The MMO consultation on stage 3 of its fishing management programme in English offshore MPAs received 24,500 responses
- The proposals affect 13% of English waters and are described as 'very substantial'
- Government remains committed to introducing fisheries byelaws by end of 2026 under the Environmental Improvement Plan
- Defra Ministers will consider MMO proposals 'as soon as possible upon receipt' before final decisions
Tone
ProceduralTopics
marine-conservationfisheries-managementenvironmental-policy
Key actors
Emma Hardy MP, Toby Perkins MP, Marine Management Organisation, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Notable line
“We remain on track to meet the commitment in our Environmental Improvement Plan to introduce fisheries byelaws by the end of this year.”
Key Quotes
“The MMO has been examining all the consultation responses – there were 24,500 – and considering the appropriate response.”
“The consultation relates to some very substantial proposals affecting 13% of English waters and we must get our approach right.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗