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Marine Protected Areas: Bottom Trawling

Asked by Fleur AndersonLabourDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 16 March 2026UIN 118879

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what amount of bottom-towed fishing has taken place since June 2025 within each of the 41 English offshore marine protected areas subject to public consultation in summer 2025.

Answered by Emma Hardy

While the Marine Management Organisation can record data on gear type in MPAs as it did for the 41 English offshore marine protected areas consulted on in summer 2025, this takes significant time to compile and quality‑check.

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