The Scottish Government and other UK administrations have announced a consultation on proposed amendments to Annex A of the joint fisheries statement in relation to the fisheries management plans.

A consultation document setting out the proposed amendments has been laid in the Scottish Parliament. The consultation document can be viewed here (note the consultation is being co-ordinated by the UK Government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).

Background

The Fisheries Act 2020 established a new UK-wide legal framework to replace the EU common fisheries policy. The Act sets out eight fisheries objectives.

The Act requires the four UK administrations to prepare and publish a joint fisheries statement (JFS). The JFS would set out how the four administrations intend, either individually or jointly, to achieve the fisheries objectives and how they plan to use fisheries management plans (FMPs) as part of this process.

The 2020 Act sets out that the four administrations must consult on the draft JFS. The Act also says that, either before or at the same time as the public consultation, the administrations must lay the draft JFS for scrutiny in each UK legislature and specify a time period for its consideration.

The four administrations consulted on the first draft JFS in spring 2022 and the Committee scrutinised this document in spring 2022. The JFS was subsequently agreed by the four administrations.

Annex A to the JFS lists the stocks and fishing areas of planned FMPs and a timetable for their preparation and publication. These FMPs were timetabled to be published by the end of 2024.

The consultation document states that “the nature of what FMPs are seeking to achieve, and the process for developing them, is complex and each plan is unique”. It goes on to state that, “as a result of our experience to date, it has become clear that it is no longer possible to publish the remaining FMPs according to the original timetable set out in Annex A”.

The consultation document proposes the following—

• Extending the deadline for FMP publication, including extending the deadline for the 22 FMPs led by the Scottish Ministers to 2026
• Making a “number of technical and other relatively small amendments” to a number of the FMPs
• Creating a new FMP for periwinkles in Northern Ireland and
• Changes to the authorities responsible for the preparation and publication of FMPs.

The administrations are consulting on the JFS amendments between 10 October and 21 November 2024. The proposed amendments must be considered by each legislature before 21 November 2024.

The Committee intends to take evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands on the amendments to the JFS at its meeting on 6 November 2024.