My TL;DR:

The UK government decided to set catch limits for fish populations above those recommended by scientific advice and breaking their own post-Brexit rules.

When the government introduced the Fisheries Act in 2020, it said it would create a “world class” management regime drawing on “best available science” to ensure fish populations are healthy and sustainable.

The reality is different, say conservationists.

In the first year post Brexit, more than 65% of catch limits were in excess of independent scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (Ices). In the second year, they were 57% above.

This month, for the third year in a row, ministers agreed to set at least half of the catch limits for shared stocks above scientific advice.

This means a green light for overfishing, according to the Blue Marine Foundation.

The legal challenge, expected to start in January, will argue that the government is “illegally squandering” a public asset and going against laws aimed at improving sustainable fishing.