Fisheries Bill — Decline Second Reading — Sustainable Fishing — 1 Sep 2020 at 21:43

The majority of MPs voted to make sustainability the prime objective of sea fishing regulation in the UK, for other proposed objectives and arrangements relating to the regulation of fishing.

MPs were considering the Fisheries Bill.[1][2]

The Bill sets objectives for the regulation of sea fishing around the United Kingdom, and all fishing by British fishing boats, under headings of:

  • (a)the sustainability objective
  • (b)the precautionary objective
  • (c)the ecosystem objective
  • (d)the scientific evidence objective
  • (e)the bycatch objective
  • (f)the equal access objective
  • (g)the national benefit objective, and
  • (h)the climate change objective

the sustainability objective is defined as the prime fisheries objective.

The Bill contains a provision stating:

  • A foreign fishing boat must not enter British fishery limits except—
  • (a)for the purpose of fishing in accordance with a sea fishing licence, or
  • (b)for a purpose recognised by international law or by any international agreement or arrangement to which the United Kingdom is a party.

The Bill empowers the devolved administrations in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland to regulate fishing in their zones, with the UK's fishing regulation co-ordinated via a "Joint fisheries statement".

The motion rejected in this vote was

  • That this House
  • declines to give a Second Reading to the Fisheries Bill [Lords] before it is clear what kind of deal will be made with the EU after the end of the implementation period and because the present approach of the Bill fails to secure a long-term sustainable future for the industry balancing the interests of the environment, the consumer and the producers of this industry which is so vital to the prosperity of fishing ports in Scotland, Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom.
  • [1] Parliament's webpage on the Fisheries Bill, Parliament.uk
  • [2] Explanatory notes to the Fisheries Bill, Parliament.uk

Debate in Parliament |

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Party Summary

Votes by party, red entries are votes against the majority for that party.

What is Tell? '+1 tell' means that in addition one member of that party was a teller for that division lobby.

What are Boths? An MP can vote both aye and no in the same division. The boths page explains this.

What is Turnout? This is measured against the total membership of the party at the time of the vote.

PartyMajority (No)Minority (Aye)BothTurnout
Con313 (+2 tell) 0086.5%
DUP8 00100.0%
Independent1 10100.0%
Lab0 000.0%
LDem2 0018.2%
PC0 30100.0%
SNP0 44 (+2 tell)095.8%
Total:324 48058.9%

Rebel Voters - sorted by party

MPs for which their vote in this division differed from the majority vote of their party. You can see all votes in this division, or every eligible MP who could have voted in this division

Sort by: Name | Constituency | Party | Vote

NameConstituencyPartyVote
no rebellions

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