Defra has published major consultations today on the next five Defra-led draft Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs). The consultations close on Sunday 19 January 2025. Read and share your views by clicking on these links below. (You can submit your consultation response through an online questionnaire, or by email or post. Details of coastal and online events to discuss these plans will follow.)
It has also published a consultation on amending the deadlines for publishing the remaining FMPs and making technical changes to some of the FMPs. This consultation closes on Thursday 21 November 2024. Read the consultation document and share your views here.
It has issued the finalised Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel mixed flatfish FMP and the government response, which was consulted on last year. Click here for the published plan, government and summary responses.
Key elements of the published plan are:
- Improving the evidence base for stocks that are data poor.
- Setting total allowable catches in line with ICES Maximum Sustainable Yield advice, while also taking into consideration environmental, social and economic factors.
- The implementation of minimum conservation reference sizes (MCRS) for three stocks in the Eastern Channel.
- Proposals to increase the MCRS and explore implementation of gear restrictions, including gathering evidence.
More information and ALL links can be found here.
The notification states; “We want your views on the consultations now and as we start to implement the flatfish FMP there will be opportunities to engage.” It adds on the next five draft FMPs; “The FMPs were developed collaboratively over several months. They gather evidence of what we know about the state of the stocks, the management and set out short, medium and long term actions to restore or maintain the stocks at sustainable levels.”