The Government has received a sharp warning that its primary post-Brexit fisheries legislation is "failing" to deliver on its pledges of revitalised fish stocks and thriving coastal communities.
Critics, including MPs, environmentalists, and inshore fishermen, contend that the Fisheries Act 2020, introduced after the UK's departure from the EU’s fisheries policy, continues to permit overfishing and does not adequately distribute fishing quotas to support local communities.
This mounting criticism follows a legal challenge lost by the environmental charity Blue Marine Foundation, where courts ruled that ministers possess broad discretion in quota allocation, effectively undermining efforts to enforce stricter sustainable management.
Key Concerns from Critics
Toby Perkins, Labour MP and chairman of the parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee (EAC), stated: “The 2020 Fisheries Act... is failing to deliver its promise of ‘world class sustainable management of fisheries’.” He noted that more than 50% of fishing opportunities were allocated above scientific advice this year, a pattern seen every year since Brexit.
Perkins argued that while following scientific advice would lead to a short-term reduction, it would result in a more profitable fishing industry in the medium or long-term. He also highlighted that the Blue Marine case showed the Act's inability to hold ministers accountable for their decisions.
He called for a required review of the Joint Fisheries Statement to implement sustainable fishing, stop discards, and distribute quota more equitably so that generational family fishers stop losing out to "corporate industrial trawlers."
Rachel Gilmour, Lib Dem MP for Tiverton and Minehead, agreed, saying there are "many inherent flaws" in the Act which have undermined the positive parts that should have ensured sustainable fishing.
Dire Situation for Fish Stocks
The criticism comes as many fish stocks around the UK face an increasingly dire situation. Scientists have advised a 77% reduction in mackerel catches and a “zero catch” for several species, including "Northern Shelf" cod (fished from the North Sea, English Channel, and west of Scotland), Celtic Sea cod, haddock, whiting, herring, Irish Sea cod, and North Sea horse mackerel.
Despite these stark warnings, quotas have repeatedly been set above recommended levels by the UK and EU, as sustainable management is balanced against pressure to provide fishing opportunities for the fleet.
Charles Clover, co-founder of Blue Marine, remarked: “A child of five could tell you that if you catch too many fish this year you won’t have very many left to catch next year or the year after." He stressed that decisions to overfish have been taken every year since Brexit and ruled lawful under the 2020 Act.
Martin Yorwarth, an inshore fisherman, described fisheries management as a “farce,” asserting that the industrial UK and European fishing lobby still holds too much control. He warned that the Act's “wiggle room” allows fishing at unsustainable levels and called for the law to be repealed.
Government Response
A Defra spokesperson defended the government's position, stating: “We are working together with industry through Fisheries Management Plans to ensure we fish sustainably, alongside investing £360 million in a new Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund so the sector can thrive for generations to come.”
