Illegal Fishing

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 2:38 pm on 13 October 2021.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 2:38, 13 October 2021

We've certainly increased the number of marine enforcement officers that we as a Government have, and, in north Wales, it has increased also over the last couple of years. The number of onshore inspections has increased significantly. Just in this year alone, up until the middle of October, obviously, we've had 350 onshore inspections, and that compares to 310 in 2020. So, we are seeing far more inspection work. I'm very concerned to hear of the particular concern that you raised, and if you want to write to me, I will ask for that specifically to be done. But, as I say, the level of inspections has increased significantly, and, as we are bringing in new recruits, because we are continuing to recruit enforcement officers, I would hope to see activity much more closely monitored, and obviously enforcement put in there.