OpenLegislation

Fisheries Act 2020

2020 c. 22 · Enacted 23 November 2020 · Extends to United Kingdom

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 1 January 2024.

An Act to make provision in relation to fisheries, fishing, aquaculture and marine conservation; to make provision about the functions of the Marine Management Organisation; and for connected purposes.

[23rd November 2020]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. Fisheries objectives, fisheries statements and fisheries management plans
  2. 1Fisheries objectives
  3. 2Joint fisheries statement
  4. 3Joint fisheries statement: procedure
  5. 4Secretary of State fisheries statement
  6. 5Secretary of State fisheries statement: procedure
  7. 6Fisheries management plans: duty to comply with proposals in JFS
  8. 7Fisheries management plans: power to depart from proposals in JFS
  9. 8Fisheries management plans: procedure
  10. 9Fisheries management plans: transitional provision
  11. 10Effect of fisheries statements and fisheries management plans
  12. 11Reports on fisheries statements and fisheries management plans
  13. Access to British fisheries and regulation of foreign fishing boats
  14. 12Access to British fisheries by foreign fishing boats
  15. 13Regulation of foreign fishing boats
  16. Licensing of fishing boats
  17. 14British fishing boats required to be licensed
  18. 15Power to grant licences in respect of British fishing boats
  19. 16Foreign fishing boats required to be licensed if within British fishery limits
  20. 17Power to grant licences in respect of foreign fishing boats
  21. 18Further provision about licences
  22. Access and licensing: offences and consequential amendments
  23. 19Penalties for offences
  24. 20Offences by bodies corporate etc
  25. 21Jurisdiction of court to try offences
  26. 22Minor and consequential amendments
  27. Fishing opportunities
  28. 23Power of Secretary of State to determine fishing opportunities
  29. 24Duties relating to a determination of fishing opportunities
  30. 25Distribution of fishing opportunities
  31. 26Duties to ensure fishing opportunities not exceeded
  32. 27Sale of English fishing opportunities
  33. Discard prevention charging schemes
  34. 28Discard prevention charging schemes
  35. 29Meaning of “chargeable person” and “unauthorised catch of sea fish”
  36. 30Catches subject to a charge ignored for certain regulatory purposes
  37. 31Charge collectors
  38. 32Discard prevention charging schemes: supplementary provision
  39. Grants and charges
  40. 33Financial assistance: powers of Secretary of State
  41. 34Charges: powers of Marine Management Organisation
  42. 35Sea Fish Industry Authority: fees for services provided for industry in EU
  43. Powers to make further provision
  44. 36Power to make provision about fisheries, aquaculture etc
  45. 37Section 36: interpretation
  46. 38Power to make provision about aquatic animal diseases
  47. 39Scope of regulations under section 36 or 38
  48. 40Scope of regulations under section 36 or 38 where consent obtained
  49. 41Procedural requirements for regulations under section 36 or 38
  50. 42Powers of Scottish Ministers, Welsh Ministers and NI department
  51. Miscellaneous
  52. 43Agency arrangements between sea fish licensing authorities
  53. 44Foreign fishing boats that are exclusively Faroe Islands-regulated
  54. 45Legislative competence of Senedd Cymru
  55. 46Interpretation of Welsh legislation
  56. 47Conservation of Seals
  57. 48Amendments of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009
  58. 49Retained direct EU legislation: minor and consequential amendments
  59. Final provisions
  60. 50Amendments that could have been made under existing powers
  61. 51Regulations
  62. 52Interpretation
  63. 53Extent
  64. 54Commencement
  65. 55Short title
  66. Schedule 1: Fisheries statements and management plans: preparation and publication
  67. Part 1: Joint fisheries statement
  68. Introductory
  69. 1Paragraph 1
  70. Consultation
  71. 2Paragraph 2
  72. Requirement to lay consultation draft before appropriate legislature
  73. 3Paragraph 3
  74. Publication of the relevant document
  75. 4Paragraph 4
  76. Part 2: Secretary of State fisheries statement
  77. Introductory
  78. 5Paragraph 5
  79. Consultation
  80. 6Paragraph 6
  81. Requirement to lay consultation draft before Parliament
  82. 7Paragraph 7
  83. Publication of the relevant document
  84. 8Paragraph 8
  85. Part 3: Fisheries management plans
  86. Introductory
  87. 9Paragraph 9
  88. Consultation
  89. 10Paragraph 10
  90. Publication of the relevant document
  91. 11Paragraph 11
  92. Schedule 2: Regulation of foreign fishing boats
  93. Part 1: England and Wales
  94. Scallops (Irish Sea) (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 1984
  95. 1Paragraph 1
  96. Undersized Velvet Crabs Order 1989
  97. 2Paragraph 2
  98. Sea Fish (Specified Sea Area) (Regulation of Nets and Prohibition of Fishing Methods) Order 1989
  99. 3Paragraph 3
  100. Lobsters and Crawfish (Prohibition of Fishing and Landing) Order 2000
  101. 4Paragraph 4
  102. Undersized Edible Crabs Order 2000
  103. 5Paragraph 5
  104. Sea Fish (Specified Sea Areas) (Regulation of Nets and Other Fishing Gear) Order 2001
  105. 6Paragraph 6
  106. Prohibition of Fishing with Multiple Trawls Order 2001
  107. 7Paragraph 7
  108. Shrimp Fishing Nets Order 2002
  109. 8Paragraph 8
  110. Shellfish (Specified Sea Area) (Prohibition of Fishing Methods) (Wales) Order 2003
  111. 9Paragraph 9
  112. Prohibition of Fishing with Multiple Trawls Order 2003
  113. 10Paragraph 10
  114. Prohibition of Fishing with Multiple Trawls (Wales) Order 2003
  115. 11Paragraph 11
  116. South-west Territorial Waters (Prohibition of Pair Trawling) Order 2004
  117. 12Paragraph 12
  118. Tope (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 2008
  119. 13Paragraph 13
  120. Shrimp Fishing Nets (Wales) Order 2008
  121. 14Paragraph 14
  122. Tope (Prohibition of Fishing) (Wales) Order 2008
  123. 15Paragraph 15
  124. Scallop Fishing (Wales) (No 2) Order 2010
  125. 16Paragraph 16
  126. Cockles and Mussels (Specified Area) (Wales) Order 2011
  127. 17Paragraph 17
  128. Scallop Fishing (England) Order 2012
  129. 18Paragraph 18
  130. Scallop Dredging Operations (Tracking Devices) (Wales) Order 2012
  131. 19Paragraph 19
  132. Specified Crustaceans (Prohibition on Fishing, Landing, Sale and Carriage) (Wales) Order 2015
  133. 20Paragraph 20
  134. Whelk Fishing (Wales) Order 2019
  135. 21Paragraph 21
  136. Part 2: Scotland
  137. The Lobsters and Crawfish (Prohibition of Fishing and Landing) (Scotland) Order 1999
  138. 22Paragraph 22
  139. The Sea Fish (Specified Sea Areas) (Regulation of Nets and Other Fishing Gear) (Scotland) Order 2000
  140. 23Paragraph 23
  141. The Prohibition of Fishing for Scallops (Scotland) Order 2003
  142. 24Paragraph 24
  143. The Shrimp Fishing Nets (Scotland) Order 2004
  144. 25Paragraph 25
  145. The Sharks, Skates and Rays (Prohibition of Fishing, Trans-shipment and Landing) (Scotland) Order 2012
  146. 26Paragraph 26
  147. The Regulation of Scallop Fishing (Scotland) Order 2017
  148. 27Paragraph 27
  149. The Prohibition of Fishing with Multiple Trawls (Scotland) Order 2017
  150. 28Paragraph 28
  151. The Specified Crustaceans (Prohibition on Landing, Sale and Carriage) (Scotland) Order 2017
  152. 29Paragraph 29
  153. The Sea Fish (Prohibited Methods of Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) Order 2019
  154. 30Paragraph 30
  155. Part 3: Northern Ireland
  156. The Inshore Fishing (Prohibition of Fishing and Fishing Methods) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993
  157. 31Paragraph 31
  158. The Razor Shells (Prohibition of Fishing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998
  159. 32Paragraph 32
  160. The Crabs and Lobsters (Minimum Size) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000
  161. 33Paragraph 33
  162. The Conservation of Scallops Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
  163. 34Paragraph 34
  164. The Edible Crabs (Conservation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
  165. 35Paragraph 35
  166. The Edible Crabs (Undersized) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020
  167. 36Paragraph 36
  168. Schedule 3: Sea fishing licences: further provision
  169. Power to attach conditions to sea fishing licence
  170. 1Paragraph 1
  171. Power to vary, suspend or revoke sea fishing licence etc
  172. 2Paragraph 2
  173. Power to obtain information
  174. 3Paragraph 3
  175. Duty to comply with request of another sea fish licensing authority
  176. 4Paragraph 4
  177. Use of licensing functions to limit fishing activity
  178. 5Paragraph 5
  179. Power to arrange for licensing functions to be exercised by others
  180. 6Paragraph 6
  181. Regulations about the licensing of fishing boats
  182. 7Paragraph 7
  183. Power of Secretary of State under paragraph 7 where consent obtained
  184. 8Paragraph 8
  185. Interpretation
  186. 9Paragraph 9
  187. Schedule 4: Access and licensing: minor and consequential amendments
  188. Part 1: Access to British fisheries by foreign fishing boats
  189. Sea Fish Industry Act 1962
  190. 1Paragraph 1
  191. Sea Fisheries Act 1968
  192. 2Paragraph 2
  193. Fishery Limits Act 1976
  194. 3Paragraph 3
  195. Subordinate legislation made under section 2 of the Fishery Limits Act 1976
  196. 4Paragraph 4
  197. Fishery Limits Act 1976 (Guernsey) Order 1989
  198. 5Paragraph 5
  199. Part 2: Licensing of fishing boats
  200. Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967
  201. 6Paragraph 6
  202. Fishery Limits Act 1976
  203. 7Paragraph 7
  204. Fisheries Act 1981
  205. 8Paragraph 8
  206. Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1992
  207. 9Paragraph 9
  208. Government of Wales Act 2006
  209. 10Paragraph 10
  210. Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009
  211. 11Paragraph 11
  212. Sea Fish (Specified Manx Waters) Licensing Order 1990
  213. 12Paragraph 12
  214. Sea Fish Licensing Order 1992
  215. 13Paragraph 13
  216. Sea Fish Licensing (Time at Sea) (Principles) Order 1993
  217. 14Paragraph 14
  218. Sea Fishing (Licences and Notices) Regulations 1994
  219. 15Paragraph 15
  220. Scotland Act (Agency Arrangements) (Specification) Order 1999
  221. 16Paragraph 16
  222. Scotland Act 1998 (Concurrent Functions) Order 1999
  223. 17Paragraph 17
  224. Sea Fishing (Licences and Notices) (Scotland) Regulations 2011
  225. 18Paragraph 18
  226. Sea Fishing (Licences and Notices) (England) Regulations 2012
  227. 19Paragraph 19
  228. Sea Fishing (Licences and Notices) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014
  229. 20Paragraph 20
  230. Sea Fish Licensing (England) Order 2015
  231. 21Paragraph 21
  232. Sea Fish Licensing (Wales) Order 2019
  233. 22Paragraph 22
  234. Sea Fishing (Licences and Notices) (Wales) Regulations 2019
  235. 23Paragraph 23
  236. Sea Fish Licensing (England) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
  237. 24Paragraph 24
  238. Sea Fish Licensing (Foreign Vessels) (EU Exit) (Scotland) Order 2019
  239. 25Paragraph 25
  240. Sea Fishing (Licences and Notices) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2019
  241. 26Paragraph 26
  242. Fishing Boats Designation (EU Exit) (Scotland) Order 2019
  243. 27Paragraph 27
  244. Part 3: Transitional provision
  245. Licences in respect of British fishing boats
  246. 28Paragraph 28
  247. Licence conditions
  248. 29Paragraph 29
  249. Regulations
  250. 30Paragraph 30
  251. Continuity of the law
  252. 31Paragraph 31
  253. Schedule 5: Sale of Welsh fishing opportunities
  254. 1Paragraph 1
  255. 2Paragraph 2
  256. 3Paragraph 3
  257. 4Paragraph 4
  258. 5Paragraph 5
  259. 6Paragraph 6
  260. 7Paragraph 7
  261. Schedule 6: Financial assistance: powers of devolved authorities
  262. Power of the Scottish Ministers
  263. 1Paragraph 1
  264. Power of the Welsh Ministers
  265. 2Paragraph 2
  266. Power of the Northern Ireland department
  267. 3Paragraph 3
  268. Financial assistance: consequential amendments
  269. 4Paragraph 4
  270. Transitional provision
  271. 5Paragraph 5
  272. Schedule 7: Imposition of charges: powers of devolved authorities
  273. Power of Scottish Ministers
  274. 1Paragraph 1
  275. Power of Welsh Ministers
  276. 2Paragraph 2
  277. Power of Northern Ireland department
  278. 3Paragraph 3
  279. Schedule 8: Powers to make further provision: devolved authorities
  280. Part 1: Scottish Ministers
  281. Power to make provision about fisheries, aquaculture etc
  282. 1Paragraph 1
  283. Paragraph 1: interpretation
  284. 2Paragraph 2
  285. Power to make provision about aquatic animal diseases
  286. 3Paragraph 3
  287. Scope of regulations under paragraph 1 or 3
  288. 4Paragraph 4
  289. Procedural requirements
  290. 5Paragraph 5
  291. Part 2: Welsh Ministers
  292. Power to make provision about fisheries, aquaculture etc
  293. 6Paragraph 6
  294. Paragraph 6: interpretation
  295. 7Paragraph 7
  296. Power to make provision about aquatic animal diseases
  297. 8Paragraph 8
  298. Scope of regulations under paragraph 6 or 8
  299. 9Paragraph 9
  300. Procedural requirements
  301. 10Paragraph 10
  302. Part 3: The Northern Ireland department
  303. Power to make provision about fisheries, aquaculture etc
  304. 11Paragraph 11
  305. Paragraph 11: interpretation
  306. 12Paragraph 12
  307. Power to make provision about aquatic animal diseases
  308. 13Paragraph 13
  309. Scope of regulations under paragraph 11 or 13
  310. 14Paragraph 14
  311. Procedural requirements
  312. 15Paragraph 15
  313. Schedule 9: Conservation of seals
  314. Part 1: Amendments of the Conservation of Seals Act 1970
  315. 1Paragraph 1
  316. 2Paragraph 2
  317. 3Paragraph 3
  318. 4Paragraph 4
  319. 5Paragraph 5
  320. 6Paragraph 6
  321. 7Paragraph 7
  322. 8Paragraph 8
  323. 9Paragraph 9
  324. 10Paragraph 10
  325. 11Paragraph 11
  326. 12Paragraph 12
  327. Part 2: Amendments of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985
  328. 13Paragraph 13
  329. 14Paragraph 14
  330. 15Paragraph 15
  331. 16Paragraph 16
  332. 17Paragraph 17
  333. 18Paragraph 18
  334. 19Paragraph 19
  335. Schedule 10: Amendments of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009
  336. Part 1: General powers and duties of the Marine Management Organisation
  337. 1Paragraph 1
  338. 2Paragraph 2
  339. 3Paragraph 3
  340. 4Paragraph 4
  341. 5Paragraph 5
  342. Part 2: Powers relating to the exploitation of sea fisheries resources
  343. 6Paragraph 6
  344. 7Paragraph 7
  345. 8Paragraph 8
  346. 9Paragraph 9
  347. 10Paragraph 10
  348. 11Paragraph 11
  349. 12Paragraph 12
  350. 13Paragraph 13
  351. 14Paragraph 14
  352. 15Paragraph 15
  353. 16Paragraph 16
  354. 17Paragraph 17
  355. 18Paragraph 18
  356. 19Paragraph 19
  357. 20Paragraph 20
  358. 21Paragraph 21
  359. 22Paragraph 22
  360. 23Paragraph 23
  361. 24Paragraph 24
  362. 25Paragraph 25
  363. 26Paragraph 26
  364. 27Paragraph 27
  365. 28Paragraph 28
  366. 29Paragraph 29
  367. 30Paragraph 30
  368. 31Paragraph 31
  369. 32Paragraph 32
  370. Schedule 11: Retained direct EU legislation: minor and consequential amendments
  371. Introduction
  372. 1Paragraph 1
  373. Common Fisheries Policy Regulation
  374. 2Paragraph 2
  375. Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013
  376. 3Paragraph 3
  377. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1393/2014
  378. 4Paragraph 4
  379. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1395/2014
  380. 5Paragraph 5
  381. Regulation (EU) 2016/2336
  382. 6Paragraph 6
  383. Regulation (EU) 2017/1004
  384. 7Paragraph 7
  385. Regulation (EU) 2017/2403
  386. 8Paragraph 8
  387. Regulation (EU) 2018/973
  388. 9Paragraph 9
  389. Regulation (EU) 2019/472
  390. 10Paragraph 10
  391. Regulation (EU) 2019/1241
  392. 11Paragraph 11
  393. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2238
  394. 12Paragraph 12
  395. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2239
  396. 13Paragraph 13
  397. Council Regulation (EU) 2020/123
  398. 14Paragraph 14
  399. Transitional provision
  400. 15Paragraph 15
  401. Consequential amendments
  402. 16Paragraph 16