Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs - Primary Legislation

Fisheries, Aquaculture & Water Environment Bill

The Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill was formally introduced by the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on 22 June 2026. The Bill completed its Second Stage on 30 June 2026 and was referred to the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for scrutiny (the Committee Stage of the Bill) on 1 July 2026.

The main purpose of the Bill is to update current fisheries legislation to modernise and implement Northern Ireland’s fisheries policies to ensure that commercial and recreational fishing is undertaken at sustainable levels so it can benefit future generations.

It supports a whole-system approach to managing the water environment, recognising that healthy fish populations and productive fisheries depend on clean, well-functioning ecosystems.

The Bill enables more flexible enforcement options through future regulations, avoiding unnecessary criminalisation while maintaining accountability.

The Bill introduces an increased maximum penalty for water pollution offences, reinforcing the importance of protecting the water environment regardless of the source of pollution.

Further information on the Bill can be found below:

• Read the Bill as Introduced
• Read the Bill's Explanatory and Financial Memorandum

An Explanatory and Financial Memorandum (EFM) is a document that accompanies a bill. It provides a detailed explanation of the bill's purpose, background, policy objectives, and its potential financial, human rights, and other impacts.

Call for Evidence

As part of the Assembly’s legislative processes, the Assembly’s Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs will now consider and take evidence on the Bill and report its opinion to the Assembly. This is known as the 'Committee Stage' of the Bill. As it was the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs who introduced the Bill, it is the responsibility of the Assembly's Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to take forward the Committee Stage.

As part of the Committee Stage, the Committee is seeking views from stakeholders on the objectives, proposals and potential consequences of the Bill and would welcome your views and comments on its contents.

How to submit your views

The Committee has now launched its consultation, inviting you to have your say on the Bill's content. The consultation takes the form of an online survey, hosted on our Citizen Space website.

Your views will help to inform the Committee's consideration of the Bill and any recommendations it may suggest as it moves to the next stage of the legislative process.

Please find a link to the Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill survey below:

• Launch the survey on the Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill and tell us your views

The closing date for completing the survey is 11 September 2026.

If you have any questions or would like to request a different format for submitting your views, please get in touch using the contact details below.

Useful Information

• View the current progress of the Bill and all related information
• Guide to submitting evidence to Assembly Committees in written or other formats
• Understanding a Bill: a guide for stakeholders
• Assembly Committees Privacy Notice

Quick Links 

• Research Papers
• Departmental Papers and Correspondence
• Minutes of Proceedings
• Minutes of Evidence
• Other Papers
• Citizen Space Survey Responses
• Written Submissions

Contact Us

If you have any queries or require any further information about the call for evidence or the Committee Stage of the Dilapidation Bill, please contact the Committee Clerk:

Address: Room 285, Parliament Buildings,
Ballymiscaw,Stormont,
Belfast, BT4 3XX

Email: Committee.AgriEnvRural@niassembly.gov.uk

Telephone: (028) 90 521369