Sir Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the extent to which the legal requirement for fishermen to report marine mammal bycatch to the Marine Management Organisation is being fulfilled; and what enforcement steps she intends to take with regard to this obligation.  [9499]

[Due for Answer on 18 June]

ANSWER

The Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs (Stephen Morgan):  The reporting of marine mammal bycatch is an important obligation and the requirement is communicated to the fishing industry at regular intervals by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) along with other applicable regulation. We take compliance seriously and any breaches of the reporting requirement are dealt with in line with MMO’s published Compliance and Enforcement Strategy.