The Committee has set out its views following evidence sessions on Common Fisheries Policy reform in letters to the Government and Commission on 29 July 2013. These letters are available below:
Committee scrutiny work on the final ageement in June 2013, including implementation of a discard ban
Since publication of the proposals, the Committee has been scrutinising the Government position. It has conducted its scrutiny through: an informal meeting with stakeholders; correspondence with the Government and EU institutions; and meetings with the Government, Commission and other National Parliaments.
The UK Fisheries Minister, Richard Benyon MP, appeared before the COmmittee on 5 June 2013. At this evidence session, Members questioned the Minister on the May Fisheries Council, the implementation and enforcement of a discards ban and whether any lessons could be learnt from the Norwegian approach.
The Committee pursued similar issues, particularly the implementation of the discard ban, with the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and Seafish on 10 Jul and with two scientists, Professor Chris Frid and Professor Jesper Raakjær, on 17 July.