To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to ensure enforcement of the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 has continued during the COVID-19 pandemic.

My Department has continued to maintain outputs during the Covid-19 pandemic while working in line with Covid-19 policy.

The majority of functions are being performed by staff working from home. Where officials require to attend a headquarters or other locations, protocols are in place to provide safeguards against transmission. Activities which require close contact with the public are currently not possible.

Sea Fisheries Officers do not currently board fishing vessels at sea nor operate as observers aboard fishing vessels which would bring individuals into close proximity. However, other activities are being conducted, such as the measurement of fishing vessels’ nets in port and the monitoring of catches at landings for technical issues such as minimum size and prohibited species.