This is a matter where the consent of the National Assembly for Wales is sought by the UK Government to legislate on an issue which could normally fall within the competence of the Assembly.

According to the Explanatory Notes accompanying the Fisheries Bill,  “[it] will provide the legal framework for the United Kingdom to operate as an independent coastal state under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS) after the UK has left the European Union (EU) and the Common Fisheries Policy (the CFP). The Bill creates common approaches to fisheries management between the UK government and the Devolved Administrations…and makes reforms to fisheries management in England”.

The Fisheries Bill (the Bill) was introduced in the House of Commons on 25 October 2018.

The Welsh Government laid a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) on the Bill before the National Assembly on 15 November 2018. On 10 January 2019, the Welsh Government laid a Supplementary LCM.

The Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee published its report (PDF, 788KB) on the LCM on 12 February 2019.

The Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee published its report (PDF, 557KB) on the LCM on 12 February 2019.

The Bill failed to complete its passage through UK Parliament before Dissolution. This means the Bill will make no further progress.