Clause 184
Marine and Coastal Access Bill [Lords]
12:00 pm
Roger Gale (North Thanet, Conservative)
With this it will be convenient to discuss new clause 2—Duty on Welsh Ministers in relation to management of inshore fisheries
‘(1) In exercising their powers under this Act or other Sea Fisheries Acts, Welsh Ministers shall seek to ensure that the exploitation of sea fisheries resources in Wales and the Welsh Zone is carried out in a sustainable way.
(2) At intervals of no more than four calendar years, Welsh Ministers shall make a report to the National Assembly for Wales on how they have discharged their powers in accordance with subsection (1).
(3) The first report of this kind shall be made within four calendar years of the enactment of this Act.
(4) A report made under this section must include—
(a) an assessment of the extent to which the exploitation of sea fisheries resources in the Welsh Zone is carried out in a sustainable way;
(b) actions the Minister has taken in order to seek to ensure that the conservation objectives of marine conservation zones are furthered, insofar as these actions relate to fisheries management;
(c) actions the Minister will take in the light of the assessment provided in the report, in pursuance of the objective in subsection (1);
(d) any other matter relating to the management of sea fisheries resources that the Minister considers appropriate.’.
New clause 3—Transfers of powers in relation to fisheries
‘In Part 1 of Schedule 5 to the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32) (Assembly Measures), in field 1 (agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development) insert—
“Matter 1.1A
Provision to confer a statutory duty upon Welsh Ministers in relation to the management of fisheries.”’.
New clause 4—Duties of the Welsh Ministers in relation to fisheries in Wales
‘(1) At regular intervals the Welsh Ministers shall report to the National Assembly for Wales on the way in which their powers pertaining to the management of sea fisheries resources have been discharged in accordance with the scheme produced under section 79 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c.32), insofar as this applies to the management of the exploitation of sea fisheries resources.
(2) A report made under this section shall include—
(a) an assessment of the extent to which the exploitation of sea fisheries resources in Welsh waters is carried out in a sustainable way;
(b) particulars of actions the Welsh Ministers have taken in order to seek to ensure that the conservation objectives of Marine Conservation Zones are furthered; insofar as these actions relate to fisheries management;
(c) particulars of actions the Welsh Ministers will take in the light of the assessment provided in the report;
(d) any other matter relating to the management of sea fisheries resources that the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate.
(3) In this section “regular intervals” means intervals of no longer than four years, with the first interval being measured from the date of enactment of this Act.’.