Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has introduced a new Fisheries Bill in order that the UK may operate as an independent coastal state after leaving the EU.

Defra considers that the Fisheries Bill will enable the UK to control who may fish in UK waters and on what terms for the first time since 1973.

Mr Gove said: "This new Fisheries Bill will allow us to create a sustainable, profitable fishing industry for all of the UK.

"It will regenerate coastal communities, take back control of our waters and, through better conservation measures, allow our precious marine environment to thrive.

"The Common Fisheries Policy has damaged the UK’s fishing industry and our precious fish stocks. The Bill will deliver a sustainable fishing industry, with healthy seas and a fair deal for UK fishermen."

The bill also gives the UK the power to implement new deals negotiated with the EU and with other coastal states and manage fisheries more effectively and sustainably in future.

The bill delivers on the UK government’s commitment to sustainable fishing and marine conservation as set out in the 25-Year Environment Plan by:

• Controlling access – by ending current automatic rights for EU vessels to fish in UK waters. In future, access to fish in UK waters will be a matter for the UK to negotiate and we will decide on the terms – foreign vessels would have to follow our rules.

• Setting fishing opportunities – by proposing powers to ensure that the UK can set its own fishing quota and days at sea, which it will negotiate as an independent coastal State. As now, the UK government will consult the Devolved Administrations.

• Protecting the marine environment – by ensuring fisheries management decisions are taken strategically for the benefit of the whole marine environment. The Bill extends powers to the Marine Management Organisation and the Devolved Administrations to protect our seas.

The new legislation also proposes ways in which the UK government and the Devolved Administrations will work together to adopt common approaches to fisheries management in certain areas - including preserving UK vessels’ right to fish across the four zones of UK waters and creating a consistent approach to managing access of foreign vessels.

The four fisheries Administrations will set out in a joint statement how they will work together to achieve the bill’s sustainability objectives.

The Bill also provides powers to reform fisheries rules. To ensure legal continuity, the EU (Withdrawal) Act transferred Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) rules into UK law. This Bill allows government to amend fisheries legislation to respond more quickly to scientific advice and innovation.

In addition, the Fisheries Bill introduces powers to create new schemes in England such as a new scheme to help the fishing industry comply with the landing obligation to end discarding of fish and powers to tender additional English quota.