The Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations 2022

Madeat 11.16 a.m. on 29th April 2022

Laid before Parliamentat 3.00 p.m. on 29th April 2022

Coming into force21st May 2022

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the power conferred by section 36(1)(c) of the Fisheries Act 20201, makes the following Regulations.

In accordance with section 41(1) of the Fisheries Act 2020, the Secretary of State has consulted the Scottish Ministers, the Welsh Ministers, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland and such other persons likely to be affected by the measures contained in these Regulations as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

In accordance with section 40 of the Fisheries Act 2020, the Secretary of State has, where necessary, obtained the consent of the Scottish Ministers, the Welsh Ministers and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland to the making of these Regulations.

Citation, commencement and extent1

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Sea Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations 2022 and come into force on 21st May 2022.

2

These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Council Regulation (EU) 2020/123 fixing for 2020 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters2

1

Council Regulation (EU) 2020/123 fixing for 2020 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters2 is amended as follows.

2

In Article 10 (measures on European seabass fisheries)—

a

in paragraph 2(a), for “380 kilogrammes per month” substitute “760 kilogrammes in any two consecutive months”;

b

in paragraph 2(b), for “380 kilogrammes per month” substitute “760 kilogrammes in any two consecutive months”;

c

in paragraph 2(c), for “5.7 tonnes” substitute “5.95 tonnes”; and

d

in paragraph 2(d), for “1.4 tonnes” substitute “1.5 tonnes”.

Victoria PrentisMinister of StateDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsAt 11.16 a.m. on 29th April 2022

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make adjustments to the level of European seabass that may be caught as a by-catch within British fishery limits.

Regulation 2 amends Council Regulation (EU) 2020/123 to update the provisions which regulate sea bass fishing. The amendments increase the time period for which weight limits for unavoidable by-catches for vessels using trawls and seines are to be assessed from one month to two consecutive months. They also increase the catch limits for vessels authorised to retain seabass when using hook and line and fixed gillnets.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary, or public sector is foreseen.