To report developments and plans by Defra and the Welsh Assembly since the December 2006 meeting (Agenda item 8).

1.1 On 16 February 2007, Defra announced that the promised White Paper on the Marine Bill will be published at a launch event on 15 March in London (Annex A). There is likely to be a 3 month consultation and the White Paper will be circulated to members as soon as possible. Officers will prepare a response for discussion and approval at the 8 June meeting of the Joint Committee.

1.2 When we have seen the text of the white paper, Members may wish to convene a special meeting of the Committee to discuss the contents. Alternatively, this could be done at the Scientific and Byelaws meeting on 20 April with all members invited to attend.

1.3 At its 10 January 2007 meeting, the Association of Sea Fisheries Committees received a presentation from Defra official Mr Trevor Hutchings on the proposed contents of the fisheries and Sea Fisheries Committees sections of the Bill. A note of this presentation (Annex B) was circulated to members in January 07. The Association was pleased to see the proposals which included all the main components of the new powers for SFC which had previously been requested. We will be looking for all these provisions in the White Paper.

2.1 The WAG has not given any indication of the extent to which the UK Marine Bill will apply in Wales or cover Welsh marine interests. The expected constitutional changes following elections in May 2007 suggest that consideration of this matter will now await the reformed Assembly.

2.2 The consultation paper promised by WAG on the future of Sea Fisheries Committees in Wales reported to the Committee in November has not yet been published. It now seems likely that the consultation will also have to be initiated by the reformed Assembly and it is unlikely that this will take place before autumn 2007.

2.3 Officers have continued to receive a heightened level of interest in the work of the Committee from Welsh politicians and have responded with briefings as requested. The Presiding Officer of the Welsh Assembly, Lord Dafydd Ellis Thomas received a full briefing aboard FPV Aegis on 29 January 2007.