The Marine and Fisheries Agency was an executive agency of the United Kingdom government that controlled sea fishing in seas around England and Wales. Responsibilities included enforcement of sea fisheries legislation, licensing of UK commercial fishing vessels, sampling of fish catches, management of UK fisheries quotas and an advisory role and general liaison with the fishing industry. It was replaced by the Marine Management Organisation on April 1 2010.[1]
Formerly "Marine Fisheries Agency", the Marine and Fisheries Agency had a wide range of responsibilities and undertook delivery functions for Defra in a number of areas.
In England and Wales, the Agency had overall responsibility for the enforcement of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and its associated regulations. English and Welsh waters within British Fishery Limits covered approximately 60,000 square miles (160,000 km2) and extended up to 200 miles (320 km) from the coast, or to the meridian line with other Member States' waters, where the distance between the countries is less than 200 miles (320 km).