Debate contribution: Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill: Extension of Committee Stage
Debate contribution by Ms Diana Armstrong on .
- MLA
- Ms Diana Armstrong
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 8 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Committee Business
- Heading
- Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill: Extension of Committee Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5674267
Read the official Assembly record
Text
On behalf of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, I wish to request an extension to the Committee Stage of the Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill to 5 February 2027, as agreed by the Committee at its meeting on 2 July 2026. The Committee received a pre-introductory briefing from DAERA officials on 18 June and heard that the Bill is intended to modernise and consolidate the legislative framework governing fisheries, aquaculture and the water environment by replacing and updating provisions in the outdated and fragmented Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966. Members heard that the Bill aims to support sustainable and profitable fisheries. It will establish statutory duties for the Department, strengthen regulatory and enforcement powers, update licensing systems and ensure alignment with current environmental standards and wider UK fisheries policy. The Committee noted that the aim is to place conservation, protection and enhancement of fish stocks at its core, informed by environmental, economic and social considerations and scientific evidence. The Bill also proposes an enforcement framework supported by a graduated system of penalties intended to deter non-compliance. The Committee heard that the Bill represents significant modernisation of the aquaculture sector, replacing a largely licence-based model with a more integrated ecosystem-based approach. The Committee recognises that much of the existing legislation is outdated. It noted that the Department's consultations demonstrated broad support for the modernisation of fisheries and water environment legislation. The responses also reflected support for DAERA's regulatory role and the importance of transparent and inclusive governance and cross-departmental collaboration. The Committee supported the principles of the Bill at the Second Stage debate. The Committee's call for views will close on 11 September, with limited responses so far. The onus is now firmly on the Committee's oral evidence sessions to delve into a significant number of important issues, including those that were raised at Second Stage, that it is keen to consider in more detail. They include water quality and ecosystem recovery, the scientific evidence base, proportionality of enforcement powers and potential impacts on fisheries and aquaculture businesses. The Committee will also want to explore funding measures and departmental capacity to ensure that the Bill is workable in practice. Other areas for our consideration include cross-border arrangements, interdepartmental working, delegated powers and the development of a modern aquaculture framework. The Committee also expects to receive a RaISe Bill research paper in the coming weeks, which, going by past experience, is likely to identify further issues for our consideration. The Committee has discussed the time needed for comprehensive scrutiny of the issues that I have just highlighted and additional matters that will likely become apparent in the near future as we delve more deeply into the evidence. We wish to complete — we will endeavour to do so — our scrutiny in advance of the date that we have requested to allow for the remaining Bill stages to be completed before the end of the mandate. To that end, the Committee has agreed to hold an extra meeting every week to focus on this important Executive Bill. The Committee is also dealing with two Members' Bills that are at Committee Stage in parallel with the Executive Bill, alongside its consideration of many statutory rules and the ongoing scrutiny of DAERA policies. Having consulted the Bill Office and considered the evidence that we wish to gather, together with our other ongoing work, the Committee seeks the support of the House to extend Committee Stage to 5 February 2027. The Committee will, of course, work at pace in its extra meeting each week to report in advance of that date if at all possible.
604 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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