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The Marine and Fisheries Agency of England and Wales controls sea fishing in seas around England and Wales. Responsibilities include enforcement of sea fisheries legislation, licensing of UK commercial fishing vessels, sampling of fish catches, management of UK fisheries quotas and an advisory role and general liaison with the fishing industry.
Formerly "Marine Fisheries Agency", the Marine and Fisheries Agency has a wide range of responsibilities and undertakes delivery functions for Defra in a number of areas.
In England and Wales, the Agency has overall responsibility for the enforcement of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and its associated regulations. English and Welsh waters within British Fishery Limits cover approximately 60,000 square miles and extend up to 200 miles from the coast, or to the meridian line with other Member States' waters, where the distance between the countries is less than 200 miles.
The MFA's change of name reflects the new marine environmental responsibilities the MFA has taken on.
These new responsibilities include:
- the marine consents and licensing work previously undertaken by core-Defra
- advising ports and offshore oil companies and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on fisheries and marine environmental matters in the context of preparedness and response to maritime oil and chemical spills
- approving oil treatment products for use on maritime oil spills and their specific use in shallow and coastal waters
- issuing dredging permissions for marine minerals extraction
- monitoring, control and enforcement of the offshore marine regulations for implementing the EU Habitats and Wildbirds Directive which will come into force later this year.
These duties fit in very well with the work the Agency already does. Bringing these functions together will deliver efficient and joined up services for management, monitoring, control and enforcement within the marine environment.
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