Committee publication · Correspondence · 14 April 2026
Correspondence from the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs relating to the publication of a statutory report on the Joint Fisheries Statement, dated 24 March 2026
From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Fisheries and the marine environment
Summary
Dame Angela Eagle, Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, notifies the EFRA Committee of the publication of the first statutory report on the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS), required under the Fisheries Act 2020. The report covers implementation of JFS policies between November 2022 and November 2025 across UK fisheries authorities and assesses progress against eight statutory fisheries objectives.
Key findings
- First three-yearly statutory report on JFS implementation published 24 March 2026, covering November 2022–November 2025 period
- Report demonstrates collaborative working between UK fisheries policy authorities and progress against all JFS policy themes across all administrations
- Key implementation areas include fisheries management plans (FMPs), data quality improvement, scientific advice integration, monitoring and enforcement, and Marine Protected Area network development
- Progress rates vary between administrations reflecting different priorities, but all have made demonstrable contributions to fisheries objectives
- Report confirms these are long-term objectives requiring sustained ongoing effort; significant work remains to be achieved
Tone
ProceduralTopics
fisheries-policyenvironmental-managementdevolved-governancemarine-conservation
Key actors
Dame Angela Eagle, Alistair Carmichael MP, Defra, Devolved Governments, Toby Perkins MP, Baroness Sheehan
Notable line
“… the report clearly sets out that progress has been made by all administrations against each of the JFS policy themes.”
Key Quotes
“… today we are laying in the House and publishing the first statutory report on the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS), as required by Section 11 (3) of the Fisheries Act”
“The report does not announce any new policies or make changes to any existing or funding schemes.”
“The UK has made a demonstrable contribution to the achievement of the fisheries objectives over the last three years. However, these are long-term objectives which will require ongoing effort to achieve.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗