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<p>As the hon. Member will be aware, fishery protection is a devolved responsibility,
therefore within Scottish waters it is the responsibility of the Scottish Fisheries
Protection Agency.</p><p>The Royal Navy does not maintain vessels exclusively employed
for fishery patrol activities; however, it does have and operate River Class Offshore
Patrol Vessels (OPVs), which conduct fishery patrol tasking alongside their other
Defence tasks. These OPVs are used to fulfil the Royal Navy's commitments under the
Memorandum of Understanding between the Royal Navy and the Marine Management Organisation
(MMO).</p><p>As a part of Government's preparations to leave the European Union the
MMO, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), The Royal
Navy and other bodies assessed the probability of an increase in illegal fishing and
the uplift required to patrol English and Welsh waters. The result was a predicted
uplift of sea hours from 2000 to 6000, and an increase in presence around the UK.
To that extent it is Defence's intent to have two OPVs at sea come 31 October conducting
Fishery Protection/Marine Enforcement tasking. They will be joined by two further
contracted MMO vessels and the Devolved Administration's own vessels. In addition,
the Royal Navy maintains a number of high readiness forces in UK waters that could
be called upon to assist if requested.</p>
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