UK Inquiry Tracker

Fisheries inquiry

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 14 Dec 2017 Closed: 11 Sep 2018 Parliament page

The inquiry will looked at the implications of Brexit for the fishing industry in Northern Ireland. The sea fishing sector in Northern Ireland employs over 850 people. In terms of ports, the boats which constitute the sea fishing industry are mainly located in the three County Down fishing villages of … Read more The inquiry will looked at the implications of Brexit for the fishing industry in Northern Ireland. The sea fishing sector in Northern Ireland employs over 850 people. In terms of ports, the boats which constitute the sea fishing industry are mainly located in the three County Down fishing villages of Portavogie, Kilkeel and Ardglass. Based on 2015 figures, Ardglass and Kilkeel are within the UK’s top 20 ports for tonnage of fish landed. The Northern Ireland fishing fleet is predominantly focussed on the catching of prawn. The total value of fish landed in Northern Ireland’s three primary fishing ports amounted to £20.8 million in 2015. Fisheries management is a devolved matter. However, the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has provided a common framework for fisheries management across the Devolved Nations. The CFP’s main policy areas are; fisheries management, funding for fishing communities, market organisation and import tariffs. The Government’s decision to withdraw from the CFP, the London Fisheries Convention and the EU raises important questions about the future of the fishing industry. Terms of Reference What opportunities and challenges will Northern Ireland face from leaving the Common Fisheries Policy? How would the imposition of export tariffs affect the fisheries industry in Northern Ireland? To what extent is EU market access dependent on the UK retaining EU fisheries regulation? How should the UK Government manage its fishery resources after Brexit? How should scientific data on the sustainability of fish stocks be gathered in future? What are the advantages and disadvantages European Maritime and Fisheries Fund? How could funding of fishing communities be improved? To what extent do international agreements limit the UK’s freedom to change fisheries policy? How will Brexit affect the management of Carlingford, Strangford and Foyle Loughs? What are the consequences of leaving the London Fisheries Convention for Northern Ireland? What effect will Brexit have on the future of the Voisinage Agreement? To what extent can the UK develop bi-lateral fishing arrangements with Ireland? How will regulatory divergence from the Common Fisheries Policy affect management of common fishing stocks? How should the interests of the fishing industry in Northern Ireland be represented in the negotiations? Show less

1 Report

3 Letters

5 Events

Activity timeline 10 events

26 Apr
2019

Correspondence

Letter from Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, regarding Brexit and Northern Ireland: Fisheries, dated 9 April 2019

13 Dec
2018

Report published

6th Special Report - Brexit and Northern Ireland: fisheries: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report

13 Dec
2018

Correspondence

Letter to the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, regarding Northern Ireland: fisheries, 12…

15 Sep
2018

Report published

4th Report - Brexit and Northern Ireland: fisheries

11 Jul
2018

Correspondence

Correspondence from George Eustice MP relating to the Committee’s inquiry into Brexit and Northern Ireland: Fisheries, 4 July 2018

14 Jun
2018

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Other

Committee event

16 May
2018

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House

Committee event

2 May
2018

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster

Committee event

25 Apr
2018

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster

Committee event

18 Apr
2018

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster

Committee event

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
4th Report - Brexit and Northern Ireland: fisheries	HC 878	15 Sep 2018	0	Responded

Correspondence 3 letters

26 Apr 2019 To committee Letter from Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, regarding Brexit and Northern Ireland: Fisheries, dated 9 April 2019

Parliament page

13 Dec 2018 From committee Letter to the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, regarding Northern Ireland: fisheries, 12 December 2018

Parliament page

11 Jul 2018 Correspondence from George Eustice MP relating to the Committee’s inquiry into Brexit and Northern Ireland: Fisheries, 4 July 2018

Parliament page