Commentary on provisions of Act Fisheries objectives, fisheries statements, and fisheries management plans Section 10: Effect of fisheries statements and fisheries management plans
This section requires the national fisheries authorities to pursue the policies outlined in the relevant fisheries statements or fisheries management plans that are applicable to them unless a relevant change in circumstances indicates otherwise. The purpose of this exception is to allow for flexibility in decision-making: it may occasionally be necessary to diverge from the policies in the statements. The national fisheries authorities are defined in subsection (5) as all the Fisheries Administrations and the MMO.
	Subsection (1) requires the national fisheries authorities, which are all those listed in subsection (5), to exercise their functions relating to fisheries, fishing or aquaculture in accordance with the JFS, SSFS, or fisheries management plans unless a relevant change in circumstances indicates otherwise. Subsection (2) requires a relevant national authority to describe the decision and the relevant change of circumstances, and explain how the relevant change in circumstances affected the decision.
	Subsection (3) provides that policies in a JFS are applicable to a national fisheries authority in subsection (5) unless the JFS states that it is not applicable. Similarly, policies in the SSFS are applicable to the Secretary of State and the MMO. This subsection also sets out how a policy in a fisheries management plan can be applicable to a national fisheries authority.
	Subsection (5) provides a non-exhaustive list of what might be considered a "relevant" change of circumstances in relation to this section. These include changes resulting from new international obligations or the availability of new evidence that would suggest a different approach to one set out in the relevant document.