Written questions by Zeichner.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the East of England APPG and Local Government East's report entitled Opportunity East One Year On, published on 19 November 2025.

Opportunity East: One Year On makes a strong case for the East of England and the role it can play in driving growth and prosperity, and we welcome the efforts of the APPG and Local Government East in raising the profile of the region and highlighting its great potential. We will consider the report with interest as we take forward our mission to kickstart growth across the country.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much Western Mackerel has been (a) caught, (b) landed in UK ports and (c) landed in ports outside the UK; and what is the estimated first hand sale value.

It is not possible to separate landings of Western mackerel from total mackerel landings in the UK Sea Fisheries statistics published by the Marine Management Organisation. In 2024, the last full year of landings data available, quota for Western mackerel accounted for 99% of the UK’s total mackerel quota and (a) UK vessels landed 233,586t of mackerel, (b) 127,967t of mackerel was landed into UK ports by UK and foreign vessels and (c) UK vessels landed 111,061t into non-UK ports. The first-hand sale value for mackerel landed by UK vessels was £1,468 per tonne in 2024. Mackerel prices have increased in 2025 – provisional figures suggest in November this year the sale value is £2,076 per tonne.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her department (a) conducted a review of the reliability of its data on seabed habitats in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) before announcing proposed fisheries management measures in Stage 3 MPAs, and (b) will publish the review’s conclusions.

Drawing on the best scientific advice available, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has determined that management of fishing activities is required to protect our Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and to ensure compliance with our domestic and international legal obligations. As part of the consultation on proposed byelaws for stage 3 MPAs, fisheries assessments were published for each site based on scientific advice from Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and using evidence on the impacts of fishing gears on protected seabed habitats. This was supplemented by a call for evidence earlier in the process. The consultation closed on 29 September and the MMO is now analysing the very large number of responses received, including any additional evidence on benthic habitats.

Food and Rural Affairs, if her department will conduct a full benthic audit of seabed habitats in the 41 Stage 3 Marine Protected Areas before designating new fisheries management measures.

Drawing on the best scientific advice available, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has determined that management of fishing activities is required to protect our Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and to ensure compliance with our domestic and international legal obligations. As part of the consultation on proposed byelaws for stage 3 MPAs, fisheries assessments were published for each site based on scientific advice from Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and using evidence on the impacts of fishing gears on protected seabed habitats. This was supplemented by a call for evidence earlier in the process. The consultation closed on 29 September and the MMO is now analysing the very large number of responses received, including any additional evidence on benthic habitats.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made and assessment of the potential merits of re-auditing seabed habitats in Marine Protected Areas.

Defra is undertaking a review of the English Marine Protected Area network to look at whether sites are in the right places with the right protection. The review will explore ways to update protection and management approaches to better address the nature crisis and improve climate change resilience, while supporting wider Government priorities including food security and net zero. The review includes assessing sites that have been designated for seabed habitats.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the quota application mechanism pilot for 2025 that allocated 2800 tonnes of Western Mackerel, how much has been (a) caught, (b) landed in UK ports and (c) landed in ports outside the UK.

Landings for Western Mackerel allocated through the Quota Application Mechanism so far this year amount to 0.8t of the 3619.2 t allocated. All 0.8t was landed into Castletown Bearhaven in the Republic of Ireland.