Andrew George MP Calls for Fairer Fishing Quotas 

Andrew George MP has secured a Westminster debate on the state of the UK Fishing industry on Wednesday 26th March. The 90 minute debate will attract MPs from across the house and will be answered by Fisheries Minister Daniel Zeichner MP.   

Mr. George said: “We’re almost a quarter of the way through 2025, so can see how well the quota settlement looks if we want to harmonise marine protection with a sustainable fishing industry. The pattern of catch against quota/catch allowance has become clearer, and so I’m requesting reasonable adjustments to better reflect the reality of the state of the stock and to base catch limits on the best science.   

“For example, pollack remains a bycatch only fishery, meaning that no one (other than recreational anglers!) are permitted to target the fish, though it’s impossible to avoid them in Cornwall’s highly mixed fishing waters. This has caused a significant challenge for the inshore and offshore Cornish fleet since the start of last year. A compensation payment was offered to some vessels in 2024, which helped ease the financial issues some businesses faced. Nothing has yet been discussed to support them in 2025, despite boats now facing a further cut in the bycatch allowance this year. As a result, the strain on these businesses has never been greater.  

“The restrictions on pollack are due to an ongoing zero total allowable catch advice from the International Council for the exploration of the Seas (ICES). So, some boats which are trying their best to avoid catching pollack may be prevented from fishing, because the pollack stock appears to be more healthy and abundant than the science previously estimated.    

“Then there’s Dover sole, which is a high-value species within the mixed fishery. However, the administrative zones it’s split into ignore that it’s migratory. Where there’s good knowledge, there’s a healthy quota and where the science is limited a precautionary limited quota is applied. In those areas other fisheries (eg. for megrim and monk fish) risk being closed for the same reason – ie. that too many Dover sole are being caught as a by catch, as the stock is more healthy than the limited estimate anticipated.   

“These and other matters will be explored with the Minister.”