On the 25th October 2018, the UK Government published the Fisheries Bill 2017-19. The Fisheries Bill proposes to provide the UK with the legal framework for the United Kingdom to operate as an independent coastal state under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS) after the UK has left the EU and Common Fisheries Policy. Some of the key provisions in the Bill are to:
- Control access by ending current automatic rights for EU vessels to fish in UK waters.
- Set fishing opportunities by proposing powers to ensure the UK can set its own fishing quota and days at sea.
- Protect the marine environment, and
- How the UK government and the devolved Administrations will work together on fisheries management.
The Scottish Affairs Committee is launching a one-off evidence session on the proposed scope, provisions and powers in the Fisheries Bill to take place on the 9th January 2019. In advance of the session, the Committee is inviting written submissions on these issues by the 17th December 2018.