To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline the process for formulating the first Sectoral Plan for Fisheries, as outlined in the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.

My Department is in the early stages of planning the formulation of the first Climate Action Plan for Northern Ireland. Consideration is being given to the design principles and it is intended that development of the draft Climate Action Plan for Northern Ireland, which will include the fisheries sectoral plan, will begin in August 2022.

The Climate Change Act requires departments to consult with relevant sector-specific advisory groups and these will include representatives from the fisheries sector. It is anticipated that the draft Climate Action Plan will be published for public consultation in March/April 2023.