To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current animal welfare protections for fish farmed in Northern Ireland.

I am aware that officials in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have been considering a number of improvements that could be made to the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing.

In addition, the Animal Welfare Committee, which advises my Department and other UK administrations on welfare at the time of killing, is due to provide an update on their opinion on the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing. My Department will consider the findings from that report as well as any Defra proposals to determine if legislative changes are required in Northern Ireland.