To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail any active and proposed plans to encourage and support commercial fisherman to use more environmentally friendly trawling techniques and reduce by-catch.

Northern Ireland was the first part of the UK to develop and adopt highly selective fishing gear to avoid unwanted by-catches of cod, haddock and whiting in the Nephrops (prawns) fishery, the main fishery in the Irish Sea for the local industry. This was a joint approach between DAERA, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and the local fishing industry, which was initiated in 2013. This joint approach continues through the Northern Ireland Gear Trials Programme. DAERA currently provides financial support for undertaking gear trials and the testing of industry identified gear technologies, focused on achieving further reductions in unwanted by-catch.

Research into highly selective fishing gear and more environmentally friendly fishing methods will continue to be supported by the Department. Current funding is in place until December 2022.