§ 55. Sir IAN MACPHERSONasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the fishermen of Avoch, Cromarty, Balintore, and Portmahomack complain of the damage done by seine-net fishing in the Moray Firth; whether there have been any prosecutions recently for this offence; and whether, in order to prevent any further damage being done to the fishing grounds there, he will take 313 steps to provide adequate vigilance by cruisers?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. There have been eight detections of alleged illegal seining in the Moray Firth during the last three months. In four of these cases the offenders have been successfully prosecuted and in the other four cases prosecution is being considered. The fishery cruisers have instructions to exercise special vigilance in detecting such offences in these areas and a new cruiser designed for the supervision of seining is being built, and is expected to be in commission next February.