I'm trying to figure out if the UK 2018 Fisheries bill amendment (if it even exists) has any practical implications for quotas or is basically declarative. As reported in the Express:
The Environment Secretary will introduce new legal obligations to ensure British fishermen have better fishing opportunities when the UK leaves the EU. British ministers will now be legally obliged to negotiate a better fishing deal with the EU than it has under the Common Fisheries Policy. Officials say the amendment will “enshrine [the Government’s] commitment to secure a fairer share of fishing opportunities for UK fishermen”.
Last night, Mr Gove said: “We are taking back control of our waters and will secure a fairer share of fishing opportunities for the whole of the UK fishing industry as we leave the EU.
“The amendment to the Fisheries Bill will give legal weight to this commitment.”
Mr Gove also announced £37.2 million extra funding to boost UK's fishing industry.
Ok so more subsidies for UK fishermen is clear. But how can the law force a better deal? I mean, the same ministers are in power now presumably, so they don't need a law to force themselves to negotiate a better deal. Is this so they can tell the EU: look we have a red line written in law? Would the EU care about this kind of argument? (E.g. were such arguments successful in the past in negotiations with the EU?) Or is this bill entirely for UK domestic consumption?