Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I very much welcome the opportunity to discuss this important issue and thank Members for their contributions, and the Government will be supporting the original motion.

We all want to see fishing and aquaculture industries in Wales that are sustainable and environmentally conscious, as well as economically viable and thriving. I do want to draw your attention to the 'Welsh National Marine Plan'. It's the first of its kind, and it does already set the high-level strategic policy goal for both fisheries and aquaculture. Sustainable growth of aquaculture in Wales is a key element of the plan and we are of course aware of the environmental benefits that low trophic aquaculture, such as shellfish and seaweed production, brings.

I am committed to further developing these goals into a strategic approach for both fisheries and aquaculture, in line with the motion today. I know there is a desire amongst stakeholders for a new fisheries and aquaculture strategy, and I fully recognise and understand that request. There are several matters in play, though, which we must consider when developing our strategic approach. This includes our statutory duty to produce a joint fisheries statement and associated fisheries management plans with the other fisheries administrations.

Fisheries and aquaculture also play their part in a number of our own policies, strategies and programme for government commitments, including the wider marine blue recovery, our food and drink strategies, the delivery of sustainable management of natural resources and, of course, the blue carbon agenda, and our commitments in Net Zero Wales. It is important that we bring together all of these strands when further developing our strategic approach to the fisheries sector.

I remain fully committed to continuing to work with stakeholders to develop the approach that we take, and sustainability, investment and industry engagement will be absolutely core to this. And, indeed, I met some of them last week and we are committed to the co-management of our fisheries and the co-production of our policies, and I will be meeting and discussing the approach again with stakeholders next month.

In terms of our longer term approach to this issue, we are reviewing the main fisheries advisory group to ensure that it is best designed to allow us to have that meaningful engagement and co-management approach. I anticipate being able to discuss this further with our stakeholders next month.

I recognise that the world has changed significantly since the 'Wales Marine and Fisheries Strategic Action Plan' was produced in 2013, and aspects of that strategy do require updating. But I must be clear what I don't think is needed is to produce a document that sits on a shelf. It's far more important that we set out clear, shared strategic priorities for the sector, and that we can work collaboratively to deliver.

It is important for colleagues to recognise, though, that we are not waiting for a strategy to undertake the work that is required. We are already progressing work on areas that will be key to informing our approach. We know, for example, that a cornerstone of our fisheries policy will be sustainable fisheries, managed in an adaptive way with evidence-based decisions taken on the best available science. And this is why I have prioritised the drafting of a whelk Order, due to come into force before the end of this year. This is a key piece of legislation and one that will provide a template for the management of other non-quota species.

Key to growth for our fishing industry is the increase in share of the UK quota I've already delivered. We will be considering how best to allocate this additional quota in the future. We will vigorously pursue sustainable catch limits in the upcoming coastal state negotiations with the European Union. Operating in the domestic quota management system, we will ensure that Welsh fishers have quota availability to realise their developmental aspirations.

We also know for many of our larger aquaculture businesses the importance of the security provided by fisheries Orders, and that is why we are prioritising this work, starting with the Order in Menai east.

Any strategy will need to be underpinned by a clear plan for investment in our seafood sector, and crucial to this investment will be the support we provide through a replacement to the European maritime and fisheries fund scheme. We will design and develop a funding scheme that will help us deliver our strategic goals and, again, I want to hear the views of stakeholders on their scheme as we approach it over the coming weeks.

Just to reassure Janet Finch-Saunders, the fisheries Bill would not appear in the programme for government. It will appear in the legislative programme and, as you're aware, this is a five-year term, with one year of the legislative programme already agreed.

In summary, then, the Government is happy to support today's motion and reconfirm our commitment to delivering a strategic approach to both fisheries and aquaculture, in collaboration with our stakeholders. Diolch.