Debate contribution: Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill: Second Stage

Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on 30 June 2026.

MLA: Mr Andrew Muir
Party at the time: Alliance Party
Date: 30 June 2026
Type: Debate contribution (made as a minister)
Business: Executive Committee Business
Heading: Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5653314

Text

I beg to move
First, I thank my Executive colleagues for their support in bringing the important Bill before the Assembly. I look forward to working constructively with Members as it progresses. The Bill is a significant and necessary step forward in how we manage, protect and develop Northern Ireland's fisheries, aquaculture sector and the wider water environment. Its purpose is clear: to modernise outdated law, strengthen accountability, protect the environment and support responsible economic opportunity. The Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 has served us well, but it was designed for a very different world. Since its enactment, pressures on fish stocks have increased, biodiversity loss has become more evident and the impacts of climate change have become better understood. At the same time, aquaculture has evolved into a more diverse and innovative industry, but, rightly, expectations around environmental governance and sustainability have increased. The Bill responds to those changes in a coherent and practical way, guided by the principles of sustainability, accountability and opportunity. I believe that this is draft legislation that all Members can support. Part 1 places a clear set of statutory objectives for inland fisheries into Northern Ireland law for the first time. Those objectives are not simply aspirational statements: they form the foundation of a modern fisheries management framework, reflect internationally recognised best design and align Northern Ireland with contemporary approaches to sustainable resource management. Taken together, the objectives provide a clear strategic direction for fisheries policy while allowing the flexibility necessary to respond to evolving scientific evidence and environmental conditions. They also make it clear that environmental protection and economic use are not competing priorities. Instead, they recognise that long-term prosperity depends on healthy ecosystems. The Bill also requires my Department to publish an inland fisheries policy statement that sets out plainly how the objectives will be interpreted and applied. That will not sit on the shelf; it will be reviewed, updated and subject to consultation. Importantly, when decisions depart from that policy, the reasons must be explained publicly. That is a meaningful step forward for transparency and accountability. On strengthening the regulation of inland waters, the Bill modernises long-standing powers under the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966, ensuring that they are fit for today's environmental and industry challenges. That matters because fisheries management today goes far beyond simply catching fish. It involves supply chains, ecosystems, data and compliance, and the Bill ensures that we have the tools to manage all those aspects effectively. It also provides flexibility to respond to changing science, environmental conditions and emerging risks. At the same time, the Bill includes safeguards. Where regulations would amend primary legislation, impose fees or create additional criminal offences, they will be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure and will require Assembly approval. That approach preserves proper legislative oversight while avoiding the need for frequent primary legislation to make technical updates. On enhancing sea fisheries enforcement, Part 2 strengthens enforcement powers at sea, ensuring that rules can be applied fairly and effectively. It equips enforcement officers with clear, modern powers aligned with the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 to board vessels, inspect activity and act when offences are suspected. That is not about overreach; it is about fairness. Law-abiding fishers should not be undercut by illegal, unreported or unregulated activity, and the Bill will ensure a level playing field for all. Effective enforcement is essential to maintain public confidence and ensure that regulations are meaningful. It enables officers to carry out their duties with the tools that they need while operating within a well-established legal framework that includes appropriate safeguards. Without it, even the best-designed system risks being undermined by non-compliance. On updating penalties and introducing proportionate enforcement, a key feature of the Bill is the modernisation of penalties for fisheries and water-related offences. Many of the penalties in existing legislation are decades old and no longer act as effective deterrents. In some cases, fines are set at levels that do not reflect the seriousness of the harm that can be caused to ecosystems or fish stocks. The Bill addresses that by increasing fines, often to levels of up to £50,000, in line with those in other jurisdictions. That is not about being punitive for its own sake; it is about ensuring that the legal framework reflects the true value of our natural resources and the importance of protecting them for future generations. However, enforcement must also be proportionate, and that is why Part 4 enables fixed penalty notices to be introduced for less serious breaches, allowing issues to be dealt with quickly and effectively while reserving the courts for more significant cases. That approach reduces the burden on our courts, provides a quicker resolution and allows enforcement resources to be focused on more serious cases. The detail of how fixed penalty notices will operate will be set out in regulations and subject to Assembly approval. On modernising aquaculture, Part 5 brings long-overdue reform to aquaculture licensing. It replaces the outdated fish culture licence with a modern aquaculture licence, reflecting the diversity of the sector, from fish to shellfish to aquatic plants and seaweed. It provides for clear conditions and the ability to transfer licences, where appropriate. It is about enabling growth and ensuring that that is responsible.
Aquaculture provides real economic opportunities, and the Bill will help ensure that those opportunities are realised responsibly without compromising the environment. Importantly, the Bill includes transitional provisions so that existing licences can continue seamlessly as aquaculture licences, with their conditions unchanged. That will give the sector stability and certainty, whilst enabling future development. To improve licensing and environmental accountability, Part 6 of the Bill will amend fish dealer licensing and introduce a clearer power to recover costs for damage to riverbeds caused by unlawful actions. It is a straightforward principle that those who cause environmental damage should bear the cost of putting it right. The measures will contribute to a more robust and coherent regulatory framework. A full regulatory impact assessment of the financial impact has been completed. It concluded that the Bill does not introduce significant new financial burdens and that any costs are outweighed by the long-term benefits. I am aware, however, that detailed examination and revisions of the assessment will be required as the Bill progresses. That will reflect evidence provided during scrutiny to ensure that impacts are appropriately assessed. The Bill, rather than creating substantial new expenditure, largely provides a framework that builds on existing enforcement powers. The cost of inaction on environmental damage, loss of tourism and declining stocks is, however, far greater. The Bill provides that most of its provisions will come into operation shortly after Royal Assent. The aquaculture licensing provisions, however, will be commenced at a later stage to allow time for appropriate preparation and stakeholder engagement. That phased approach reflects the need to balance progress against careful implementation. The Bill is about building a modern, sustainable and resilient fisheries and aquaculture system for Northern Ireland. It recognises that our aquatic environments are not only economic assets but living ecosystems that support biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience and benefit communities across Northern Ireland. The Bill sets clear objectives, strengthens enforcement, modernises outdated provisions and provides the flexibility to respond to future challenges. At the same time, it maintains appropriate safeguards, ensures transparency and preserves the role of the Assembly in scrutinising significant regulatory changes. I recognise that Members will wish to examine the detail of the Bill carefully, and I welcome that scrutiny. The Bill provides a framework that will help shape policy and practice for years to come, and it is right that it be subject to thorough scrutiny at Committee Stage and beyond. I commend the Bill to the Assembly and look forward to constructive engagement with Members as we take forward this important legislation.

1,299 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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