Defra has published five new fisheries management plans (FMPs) today to help protect and recover fish stocks.
Why these plans matter
These plans will help ensure sustainable fisheries and keep our seas healthy. We developed them with the fishing industry, including both commercial and recreational fishermen, and other interested groups.
What has changed
We consulted on these plans earlier this year. You can now read the final versions.
You can also read what people said in the consultation and the government response to their feedback.
Cockle
North Sea and Channel sprat
Queen scallop
Southern North Sea and Channel skates and rays
Southern North Sea demersal non-quota species
What we'll do first
There are several key actions over the short-term. We will:
- Consider a trial using drift nets to catch sprat in the North Sea and the Channel.
- Consider increasing the minimum landing size, also known as minimum conservation reference size (MCRS), for queen scallops in English waters.
- Consider introducing voluntary guidelines to help fishermen improve species identification.
- Improve our knowledge about fish species where we don't have enough data.
What happens next
We will now start to implement the plans-working together with the fishing industry and other interested parties to put these plans into action.
Find Defra's press release on the publication here: New management plans to safeguard fisheries for the future - GOV.UK
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