Member

Turning to the amendments on Chinese industrial fishing practices, according to a 2020 report from the international think tank ODI, the Chinese deep-water fishing fleet was found to be five to eight times larger than previously estimated, comprising something like 16,966 vessels. In a sample of 4,800 Chinese distant-water fishing vessels, 38% were found to be deep-sea trawlers. That was 1,800 vessels in 2020, so the figures have probably got a lot worse since then. Will the Minister confirm the Government’s current assessment of the harm that Chinese distant-water fishing vessels do to marine biodiversity? Can she elaborate on any impact the Government expect this treaty could have on reducing that harm?