Marine Environment News in Brief - October 2022 | Seafish

Marine Environment News in Brief - October 2022

We discuss the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, DEFRA's fisheries management plans, the UK Bycatch mitigation initiative and more.



Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill

The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 22 September 2022. Retained EU Law consists of EU-derived legislation that was preserved in the UK domestic legal framework by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

The Government have decided to end the special status of retained EU Law in the UK statute book on 31st December 2023. This Bill will enable the Government, via Parliament, to amend, repeal and replace retained EU Law. The Bill will also include a sunset date by which all remaining retained EU Law will either be repealed, or assimilated into UK domestic law.

Fisheries Management Plans

Defra has published a policy paper which sets out how Fisheries Management Plans, which aim to deliver the objectives of the Fisheries Act 2020, will be prepared and published for waters around England. The paper includes 6 ‘frontrunner’ FMPs:

Visit our Fisheries Management Plans webpage to learn more and for opportunities on stakeholder engagement.

UK Bycatch Mitigation Initiative

UK Government and Devolved Administrations have published the UK Bycatch Mitigation Initiative (BMI). This is linked to ambitions in the Fisheries Act 2021 and UK international commitments to minimise and, where possible, eliminate the bycatch of sensitive marine species. Read our blog on summarising the BMI's aim and ambitions.

Exploring Alternatives to Europe’s bottom trawl fishing gears

Seas At Risk and Oceana have published ‘Exploring alternatives to Europe’s bottom trawl fishing gears’. The report suggests that switching to readily available alternatives to bottom trawling offers multiple benefits, including improving fisheries resources, protecting the seabed and marine habitats and increasing resilience of the ocean to the climate breakdown.

Seafood, nutritional quality and climate impacts

Seafood holds promise for helping meet nutritional needs at a low climate impact. Work by Swedish and Canadian researchers assessed the nutrient density and greenhouse gas emissions that result from fishing and farming of globally important species. The highest nutrient benefit at the lowest emissions is achieved by consuming wild-caught small pelagic and salmonid species, and farmed bivalves such as mussels and oysters. Many but not all seafood species provide more nutrition at lower emissions than land animal proteins, although there are large differences depending on production method.

Seafood Innovation Fund

The fourth call for applications to the Seafood Innovation Fund (SIF) is now open. Applications will be accepted until midday on 7 December 2022. SIF is a research and development (R&D) fund which aims to secure the future of UK seafood by funding projects with a long-term vision for the industry.

MSC Ocean Stewardship Fund 2023

Applications are now open for the Marine Stewardship Council's Ocean Stewardship Fund 2023. The fund aims to accelerate progress in sustainable fishing worldwide, by supporting innovative research and fisheries committed to transitioning toward sustainability.

The fund is open to MSC certified fisheries and pre-certified fisheries and offers grants between £5,000 and £50,000. The deadline for applications is 5 December 2022.

Consultations

  • 16 Nov 2022: Defra consultation on Managing flyseine vessel pressure on demersal non-quota species.

Contact

Contact our Regulation team on regulation@seafish.co.uk