Written Question·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·UIN 109568

Marine Protected Areas: Bottom Trawling

Tabled: 29 January 2026
Answered: 4 February 2026

Question

Sir Oliver Dowden

ConservativeHertsmere

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will prohibit bottom-towed fishing gear in all 41 Marine Protected Areas.

Answer

Emma Hardy
The consultation on the latest round of proposed fisheries byelaws, which proposes further restrictions on bottom trawling in 41 of England’s offshore Marine Protected Areas, closed on 29 September. The Marine Management Organisation is now carefully cons...

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