§ 3. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals relating to the minimum sizes of fish and trawl meshes he intends to make to the other nations concerned in the fishing of the two areas, namely, that of the distant fisheries, from the Barents Sea to Greenland, and that 2501 of the nearer and middle water fisheries, covering most of the remaining area of the Atlantic Ocean north of latitude 48°N. and east of longitude 42°W.; and what steps he is taking to that end.
Mr. AmoryThe existing minima are to be further considered within the Permanent Commission set up under the Convention covering these waters following a scientific review which that body is carrying out. That review is still in progress and I think it best to await its results.
§ Mr. HughesWill the Minister not say what proposals Britain has made, which nations have met, when they have met, when the next meeting will occur and what the agenda will be?
Mr. AmoryThe recommendations are to be made by this scientific committee to the Commission. The United Kingdom is represented on the committee that is to make the recommendations. The report of that committee will be made to the next meeting of the Commission, in May.
§ Mr. G. R. HowardIs it not a fact that in every case where infringements of mesh size have been reported to him my right hon. Friend has most energetically taken it up with the Governments concerned?
Mr. AmoryThis question of the existing provisions is very important indeed, and I am very anxious to do everything I possibly can to take up as energetically as possible every case brought to my notice.