HC Deb 08 July 1958 vol 591 cc186-7
28. Sir R. Boothby

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in future international negotiations for the delimitation of fishing rights, he will advance the claims of the United Kingdom for the protection of the spawning grounds in the Moray Firth and the Minch against trawling on the part of foreign vessels.

Mr. Maclay

The policy of Her Majesty's Government is to secure the protection of fish stocks by proper conservation measures under international agreement, and the position in the Moray Firth and Minch has been and will continue to be borne in mind.

Sir R. Boothby

Arising out of that Answer, does not my right hon. Friend feel that now all these other countries are starting to extend their territorial limits, we might as well do something about it ourselves and not just lie down in front of them but say, "All right, we are going to protect our own spawning grounds"?

Mr. Maclay

As my hon. Friend will realise, conservation and delimitation are two separate questions, and I think he knows the implications of that very well.

Mr. Grimond

Will the Secretary of State bear in mind that if our trawlers are driven off the grounds around the Faroes and Iceland and all concentrate on fishing reasonably near the Scottish coast, it will be disastrous, and that, whatever the policy of the Government in getting international agreement, we must take steps to stop this if it starts?

Mr. Maclay

I am well aware of all the problems arising out of the present situation with regard to territorial waters.