Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]

This amendment seeks to discover from the Government why the powers of sea fisheries officers have been reduced from the status that they were given in the Sea Fisheries Act 1968. The reason given in the explanation from Defra for the downgrading from the powers of a constable is that it has not been carried over into the Bill, ""because SFC officers do not currently use it and do not foresee using such a power in future. It is worth to note that MFA officers currently do not have this power and have expressed no desire to have it through the Bill. SFCs and their Association have supported its repeal"." I am very grateful for that frank note. The only reason I am a bit surprised is because this amendment came from members of sea fisheries committees who are concerned that when all this is being converted to a regime that will need more oversight and probably more enforcement, it seems very strange to reduce the powers of those who will need to enforce them. I await the Minister’s reply. I beg to move.