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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the more than 30,000 hours of apparent bottom trawling activity recorded in 2025 within a Marine Protected Area designated for the conservation of harbour porpoises in the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the more than 30,000 hours of apparent bottom trawling activity recorded in 2025 within a Marine Protected Area designated for the conservation of harbour porpoises in the...
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) consulted last year on fisheries byelaws to restrict bottom trawling in a further 41 Marine Protected Areas. These proposals are substantial, covering 30,000 square kilometres or 13% of English waters and we must ensure we get them right. The MMO is carefully considering the very large number of responses received to the consultation, and decisions will be made in due course.
Internationally, we remain a leading advocate for ambitious ocean action. We continue to share the lessons we are learning from our UK experience through our membership of key alliances, whilst our scientific expertise, international finance and technical assistance continues to deliver real impact globally.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of bottom trawling within protected areas for harbour porpoises and seabirds on the Government's ecosystem-based approach to marine management.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of bottom trawling within protected areas for harbour porpoises and seabirds on the Government's ecosystem-based approach to marine management.
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) consulted last year on fisheries byelaws to restrict bottom trawling in a further 41 Marine Protected Areas. These proposals are substantial, covering 30,000 square kilometres or 13% of English waters and we must ensure we get them right. The MMO is carefully considering the very large number of responses received to the consultation, and decisions will be made in due course.
Internationally, we remain a leading advocate for ambitious ocean action. We continue to share the lessons we are learning from our UK experience through our membership of key alliances, whilst our scientific expertise, international finance and technical assistance continues to deliver real impact globally.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the time taken to introduce bottom-trawling restrictions in Marine Protected Areas on the UK's reputation for international ocean leadership.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the time taken to introduce bottom-trawling restrictions in Marine Protected Areas on the UK's reputation for international ocean leadership.
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) consulted last year on fisheries byelaws to restrict bottom trawling in a further 41 Marine Protected Areas. These proposals are substantial, covering 30,000 square kilometres or 13% of English waters and we must ensure we get them right. The MMO is carefully considering the very large number of responses received to the consultation, and decisions will be made in due course.
Internationally, we remain a leading advocate for ambitious ocean action. We continue to share the lessons we are learning from our UK experience through our membership of key alliances, whilst our scientific expertise, international finance and technical assistance continues to deliver real impact globally.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure Marine Protected Areas that protect harbour porpoises are safeguarded from destructive fishing methods.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure Marine Protected Areas that protect harbour porpoises are safeguarded from destructive fishing methods.
State of Climate and Nature
The following extract is from the statement on the State of Climate and Nature on 13 July 2026.
I really welcome the statement and all the commitment that the Government are giving to nature. I know that the 30 by 30 plan is focused just on land,...
State of Climate and Nature
The following extract is from the statement on the State of Climate and Nature on 13 July 2026.
I really welcome the statement and all the commitment that the Government are giving to nature. I know that the 30 by 30 plan is focused just on land,...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made on implementing byelaws to ban bottom trawling in the 41 marine protected areas consulted on in June 2025.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made on implementing byelaws to ban bottom trawling in the 41 marine protected areas consulted on in June 2025.
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) consulted last year on fisheries byelaws to restrict bottom trawling in a further 41 MPAs. These proposals covered 30,000 square kilometres or 13% of English waters. The MMO is carefully considering the very large number of responses received to the consultation, and decisions will be made in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Department is taking towards a ban on bottom trawling in inshore waters.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Department is taking towards a ban on bottom trawling in inshore waters.
Our comprehensive network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), now covering 40% of English waters, and over 50% of inshore waters, restrict bottom trawling in sensitive areas.
Not all MPAs require restrictions on bottom trawling for example some mobile species features such as seabirds. Of the 159 MPAs in English inshore waters, most are already protected by some form of byelaw regulating the use of bottom towed gear. Monitoring and control plans are in place for all inshore MPAs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many hours of bottom-towed fishing took place between June 2025 and May 2026 within the 41 English offshore marine protected areas subject to public consultation in summer 2025.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many hours of bottom-towed fishing took place between June 2025 and May 2026 within the 41 English offshore marine protected areas subject to public consultation in summer 2025.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Putney on 16 March 2026, PQ UIN 118879.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department will take to enforce the proposed ban on bottom trawling in marine conservation areas.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department will take to enforce the proposed ban on bottom trawling in marine conservation areas.
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the ten Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities are responsible for enforcing fisheries restrictions within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). For example, the MMO remotely monitors the movements of all fishing vessels using satellite technology and investigates incursions into areas of MPAs where fishing activities are restricted. In addition, MMO’s offshore patrol vessels and aerial surveillance flights are used to monitor and deter any prohibited activity.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce bottom trawling by EU vessels in UK waters.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce bottom trawling by EU vessels in UK waters.
Bottom trawling is restricted for both UK and EU vessels where it damages sensitive habitats such as in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Around 60% of the 181 MPAs in England restrict damaging fishing activities such as bottom trawling already and last year we consulted on proposals to restrict bottom trawling in a further 41 MPAs. Results are currently being analysed.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment has been made of the potential impact of bottom trawling on (a) the environment and (b) marine life.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment has been made of the potential impact of bottom trawling on (a) the environment and (b) marine life.
Bottom trawling can damage the seabed and marine life if used in the wrong place but also provides catch that is important for food production and supports the fishing industry. Defra is taking an evidence‑based approach to managing fishing impacts.
This includes taking steps to ensure that our Marine Protected Areas are properly protected. The Marine Management Organisation last year ran a consultation on proposals to restrict bottom trawling in a further 41 Marine Protected Areas, following an assessment of the impacts. It is now carefully analysing the large number of responses received, and decisions will be made in due course.
To ask His Majesty’s Government what progress they have made towards banning bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas.
To ask His Majesty’s Government what progress they have made towards banning bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas.
My Lords, the consultation on the latest round of proposed by-laws to introduce restrictions on bottom trawling in 41 marine protected areas resulted in a very large number of responses being received. The Marine Management Organisation is now carefully considering those responses and reviewing the evidence. When all of that has been considered in full, the decisions will be made. Our environmental improvement plan commits us to finish putting MPA fisheries by-laws in place by the end of this year.
My Lords, the consultation on the latest round of proposed by-laws to introduce restrictions on bottom trawling in 41 marine protected areas resulted in a very large number of responses being received. The Marine Management Organisation is now carefully considering those responses and reviewing the evidence. When all of that has been considered in full, the decisions will be made. Our environmental improvement plan commits us to finish putting MPA fisheries by-laws in place by the end of this year.
My Lords, the consultation on the latest round of proposed by-laws to introduce restrictions on bottom trawling in 41 marine protected areas resulted in a very large number of responses being received. The Marine Management Organisation is now carefully considering those responses and reviewing the evidence. When all of that has been considered in full, the decisions will be made. Our environmental improvement plan commits us to finish putting MPA fisheries by-laws in place by the end of this year.
To ask His Majesty’s Government what progress they have made towards banning bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas.
I thank the Minister for that response. She will know that bottom trawling is a hugely destructive fishing practice that causes widespread, severe and often irreversible environmental damage to our marine ecosystems. I would like to push the Minister a bit more on the response to the consultation; it has been over six months since it closed. Bottom trawling is taking place in our waters every day. It depletes fish populations and habitats, undermining the healthy seas that our fisheries and coastal communities rely on for their livelihoods. Does the Minister agree that time is of the essence, and can she say any more on when the consultation response will be published?
I thank the Minister for that response. She will know that bottom trawling is a hugely destructive fishing practice that causes widespread, severe and often irreversible environmental damage to our marine ecosystems. I would like to push the Minister a bit more on the response to the consultation; it has been over six months since it closed. Bottom trawling is taking place in our waters every day. It depletes fish populations and habitats, undermining the healthy seas that our fisheries and coastal communities rely on for their livelihoods. Does the Minister agree that time is of the essence, and can she say any more on when the consultation response will be published?
I agree with the noble Baroness that this is a serious issue that we need to move on as soon as we can. We have proposed that we will do this by the end of the year. The big issue is the sheer number of responses that were received; it is taking a long time to go through them. Also, the proposed by-laws are very substantial. We are absolutely
determined to get it right. It is better to take the right amount of time to come out with the right decisions that will genuinely make the differences that we need to see in our marine environments.
I agree with the noble Baroness that this is a serious issue that we need to move on as soon as we can. We have proposed that we will do this by the end of the year. The big issue is the sheer number of responses that were received; it is taking a long time to go through them. Also, the proposed by-laws are very substantial. We are absolutely
determined to get it right. It is better to take the right amount of time to come out with the right decisions that will genuinely make the differences that we need to see in our marine environments.
I agree with the noble Baroness that this is a serious issue that we need to move on as soon as we can. We have proposed that we will do this by the end of the year. The big issue is the sheer number of responses that were received; it is taking a long time to go through them. Also, the proposed by-laws are very substantial. We are absolutely
determined to get it right. It is better to take the right amount of time to come out with the right decisions that will genuinely make the differences that we need to see in our marine environments.
I thank the Minister for that response. She will know that bottom trawling is a hugely destructive fishing practice that causes widespread, severe and often irreversible environmental damage to our marine ecosystems. I would like to push the Minister a bit more on the response to the consultation; it has been over six months since it closed. Bottom trawling is taking place in our waters every day. It depletes fish populations and habitats, undermining the healthy seas that our fisheries and coastal communities rely on for their livelihoods. Does the Minister agree that time is of the essence, and can she say any more on when the consultation response will be published?
Is the Minister confident that the Government can justify calling these marine protected areas when bottom trawling is still permitted in 90% of them, resulting in 20,000 hours of suspected bottom trawl fishing last year? An outright ban would mean that there is no need to monitor that. We are still waiting for the much-promised ban that was promised in the general election. Like the noble Baroness, Lady Sugg, we are all asking, “When, when, when?”
Is the Minister confident that the Government can justify calling these marine protected areas when bottom trawling is still permitted in 90% of them, resulting in 20,000 hours of suspected bottom trawl fishing last year? An outright ban would mean that there is no need to monitor that. We are still waiting for the much-promised ban that was promised in the general election. Like the noble Baroness, Lady Sugg, we are all asking, “When, when, when?”
As I said, we are working with the Marine Management Organisation on this, because we need to get it right. We had a huge number of responses. There is also ongoing research at the moment that needs to be taken into account. The way we are looking at this is that each marine protected area is set up to protect specific species or habitats. Regulators look carefully at what those are and how different types of fishing affect those different habitats and species. It is quite complex, so it is important that any decisions we make will make the biggest difference they can.
As I said, we are working with the Marine Management Organisation on this, because we need to get it right. We had a huge number of responses. There is also ongoing research at the moment that needs to be taken into account. The way we are looking at this is that each marine protected area is set up to protect specific species or habitats. Regulators look carefully at what those are and how different types of fishing affect those different habitats and species. It is quite complex, so it is important that any decisions we make will make the biggest difference they can.
As I said, we are working with the Marine Management Organisation on this, because we need to get it right. We had a huge number of responses. There is also ongoing research at the moment that needs to be taken into account. The way we are looking at this is that each marine protected area is set up to protect specific species or habitats. Regulators look carefully at what those are and how different types of fishing affect those different habitats and species. It is quite complex, so it is important that any decisions we make will make the biggest difference they can.
Is the Minister confident that the Government can justify calling these marine protected areas when bottom trawling is still permitted in 90% of them, resulting in 20,000 hours of suspected bottom trawl fishing last year? An outright ban would mean that there is no need to monitor that. We are still waiting for the much-promised ban that was promised in the general election. Like the noble Baroness, Lady Sugg, we are all asking, “When, when, when?”