2025 No. 92
SEA FISHERIES, ENGLAND

The Sea Fisheries (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2025

Made
Laid before Parliament
Coming into force
The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 11(1) and 16(8) of Regulation (EU) 2018/973 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multiannual plan for demersal stocks in the North Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks, specifying details of the implementation of the landing obligation in the North Sea1, and in exercise of the powers conferred by section 36(1)(b) and (c), (4)(a), (c) and (d) and (6)(a) and (c) of the Fisheries Act 20202 (“the 2020 Act”), makes the following Regulations.

In accordance with section 41(1) of the 2020 Act, the Secretary of State has consulted the Welsh Ministers, the Scottish Ministers, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland and such other persons as appear to the Secretary of State likely to be affected by the measures made under section 36(1)(b) and (c), (4)(a), (c) and (d) and (6)(a) and (c) of the 2020 Act contained in these Regulations, as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

Citation, commencement and extent1.

(1)

These Regulations may be cited as the Sea Fisheries (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2025 and come into force on 28th February 2025.

(2)

These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1393/2014 establishing a discard plan for certain pelagic fisheries in north-western waters2.

(1)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1393/2014 establishing a discard plan for certain pelagic fisheries in north-western waters3 is amended as follows.

(2)

In Article 3a (de minimis exemptions), omit paragraph (c).

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1395/2014 establishing a discard plan for certain small pelagic fisheries and fisheries for industrial purposes in the North Sea3.

(1)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1395/2014 establishing a discard plan for certain small pelagic fisheries and fisheries for industrial purposes in the North Sea4 is amended as follows.

(2)

Omit Article 3a (de minimis exemption).

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2238 specifying details of implementation of the landing obligation for certain demersal fisheries in the North Sea for the period 2020-20214.

(1)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2238 specifying details of implementation of the landing obligation for certain demersal fisheries in the North Sea for the period 2020-20215 is amended as follows.

(2)

In Article 2 (definitions), after paragraph (6) insert—

“(7)

‘the English zone’ has the meaning given in Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2019/12416

(3)

In Article 8 (survivability exemption for turbot), in paragraph (1), after “subarea 4” insert “, excluding waters within the English zone,”.

(4)

In Article 10 (de minimis exemptions)—

(a)

omit paragraph (e);

(b)

in paragraph (fa), for “4a and 4b” substitute “4a, 4b and 4c”.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make amendments to assimilated law with regard to exemptions from the ‘landing obligation’ (the requirement to land catches of certain fish stocks and count them against quota) contained in Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 (EUR 2013/1380).

Regulation 2 amends Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1393/2014 establishing a discard plan for certain pelagic fisheries in north-western waters (EUR 2014/1393) to remove the de minimis exemption relating to mackerel, horse mackerel, herring and whiting caught in International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) division 7d in the Eastern English Channel.

Regulation 3 amends Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1395/2014 establishing a discard plan for certain small pelagic fisheries and fisheries for industrial purposes in the North Sea (EUR 2014/1395) to remove the de minimis exemption relating to mackerel, horse mackerel, herring and whiting caught in ICES divisions 4b and c south of 54 degrees north.

Regulation 4 amends Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2238 specifying details of implementation of the landing obligation for certain demersal fisheries in the North Sea for the period 2020-2021 (EUR 2019/2238) to remove the survivability exemption for turbot caught in waters within the English zone of ICES subarea 4. It also amends the de minimis exemption in relation to cod caught in waters within ICES division 4c.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the public, private or voluntary sector is foreseen.