The Fisheries Act 1981 established the Sea Fish Industry Authority to promote the efficiency of the industry. In general, fish consumers are not directly subject to a levy to fund the Sea Fish Industry Authority. The levy is due on all first-hand purchases of sea fish, shellfish and sea fish products including fishmeal landed in the United Kingdom. A first-hand purchase takes place when product is purchased from:

A fisherman or boat owner;

A foreign supplier; or

Fish and shellfish farmers, growers and cultivators.

Levy is also due from any UK registered fishing vessel owner, fish and shellfish farmer, grower or cultivator

who lands product in the United Kingdom for subsequent sale direct to a foreign customer, or who trans-ships product within British fishery limits.

Levy is not charged on salmon and migratory trout. Levy is also not charged on canned or bottled fish, or sea fish products packed in a hermetically sealed container which is processed to inhibit microbial growth at ambient temperature.

In August the Sea Fish Industry Authority, Seafish, consulted the industry by publishing a notice in the London, Edinburgh and the Belfast Gazettes outlining its intention to reduce the levy charged on landing most fish and shellfish in the UK and maintaining the current lower rate for cockles, mussels, whelks, pelagic fish and fishmeal. Industry stakeholders have now responded and Seafish has written to the four Fisheries Administrations with the outcome of that discussion. The Administrations are preparing a joint response.

Triennial Reviews are an important means by which Government ensures that the functions and form, of non departmental public bodies remain appropriate and that they are compliant with best practice on governance and financial and other controls. We are considering the timing of the next review of the Sea Fish Industry Authority as part of the preparation of a programme of Triennial Reviews for the period 2014-17.