Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2018 to Question 197445, what increase there has been in the number of (a) personnel and (b) surveillance assets relating to fisheries protection since 3 December 2018; and what increases are planned ahead of the UK leaving the EU.
Answer
Control and enforcement is a devolved matter. As such, it will continue to be for each Devolved Administration to decide how best to control its waters, and what new arrangements may be needed. We continue to work closely with the Devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure a coordinated approach to fisheries control and enforcement across UK waters.
In England, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has assessed the levels of enforcement capacity required and the options for best delivering this. A significant uplift in control and enforcement capability is being put in place to ensure that we will be able to protect our waters after leaving the EU.
This includes an increased number of warranted officers available for fisheries enforcement purposes by 50% – taking the total to more than 80, with additional officers undergoing enforcement training. It also includes increased aerial surveillance capabilities and measures put in place to deliver a sevenfold increase patrolling capacity at sea from 18/19 to 19/20.