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Fishing Vessels: Prosecutions

Asked by Anna GelderdLabourDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 20 October 2025UIN 81080

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many investigations of EU-registered fishing vessels were commenced by her Department in each year since 2020; and how many and what proportion of those investigations resulted in (a) charges being brought and (b) successful prosecutions.

Answered by Dame Angela Eagle

Marine Management Organisation (MMO) does not publish investigations, only prosecutions. The table below lists all cases where charges were brought resulting in successful MMO prosecutions in court of EU vessels in each year since 2020 (there were no unsuccessful prosecutions).

EU Vessels

2020

1

2021

1

2022

2

2023

2

2024

0

2025 to date

1

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