Committee publication · Correspondence · 13 February 2026
Correspondence to Michelle Willis, Interim CEO, Marine Management Organisation requesting additional information following the evidence session held on 28 January, dated 11 February.
From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Fisheries and the marine environment
Summary
The EFRA Committee chair requests additional information from the Marine Management Organisation's interim CEO following an evidence session on 28 January. The letter asks for details on enforcement transparency, inspection data, Marine Spatial Prioritisation documents, prioritisation methods across six business areas, inter-agency coordination on marine protected areas, sentinel site monitoring, and cetacean bycatch mitigation implementation in fisheries plans.
Key findings
- MMO committed during evidence session to provide additional information on enforcement activities transparency and inspections data previously included in annual reports
- Committee seeks clarification on how MMO prioritises work across six core business areas and seven 2030 goals guided by eight strategic principles
- MMO coordination with multiple agencies (Natural England, Cefas, IFCAs, JNCC) on Marine Protected Areas requires explanation to prevent duplication and omissions
- OEP-commissioned MPA network review recommended sentinel sites; Committee queries whether this approach could improve monitoring resource efficiency
- UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy recommends embedding bycatch mitigation into Fisheries Management Plans; implementation approach sought
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Michelle Willis, Marine Management Organisation, Alistair Carmichael MP, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Defra, Natural England, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Office for Environmental Protection
Notable line
“Your contributions were valuable and will help inform our work on fisheries and the marine environment.”
Key Quotes
“Thank you for giving evidence to the Committee. Your contributions were valuable and will help inform our work on fisheries and the marine environment.”
“Could you outline how the MMO intends to improve the transparency of its published enforcement activities”
“In practice, how do you ensure you are all working together to avoid duplication and omissions?”
“I would be grateful for your responses to the above questions by Monday 23 February.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗