Written question asked by Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 21 July 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 August 2025. It was answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Labour) on Monday, 28 July 2025 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Fishing Vessels: Safety

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 13 May (HL6754), and following their announcement at the United Nations Ocean Conference in June of the UK's "impending ratification" of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2012 Cape Town Agreement for the safety of fishing vessels, whether it is their intention to finalise the ratification process before the 34th session of the IMO Assembly in November.

Answer

The UK Government is committed to supporting the Cape Town Agreement. It is the first global agreement on fishing safety, to ensure mandatory minimum standards to safeguard fishers working at sea and deter vessels engaged in Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing from operating by making poor working conditions subject to detention and inspection globally.

The Explanatory Memorandum on the Cape Town Agreement will be laid as a Command Paper before Parliament upon their return from recess on 1 September for 21 sitting days. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be asked to commence accession procedures once Parliament has resolved it is content to accede.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL9720
Session: 2024-26
Related items: Fisheries
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Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Fishing Vessels: Safety

Secondary information

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