§ 28. Mr. Wolrige-Gordonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will seek power to impose restrictions on foreign fishing vessels landing their catch in Scottish ports when they are in possession of nets with a mesh smaller than international convention permits.
§ Mr. Brooman-WhiteNo, Sir. The presence on board a vessel of nets having meshes below the minimum sizes prescribed in the International Convention is not proof of a contravention of the Convention, since it permits the carriage and use of such nets by vessels fishing for certain species of fish such as herring and sand eels.
§ Mr. Wolrige-GordonIs my hon. Friend aware that this is a matter of constant irritation to the fishermen in our own ports? Is he further aware that, in the interests of the industry as a whole, we cannot be too strict on the way in which we enforce the conservation of fish stocks?
§ Mr. Brooman-WhiteI appreciate that there has been anixety about this, but I can only say that we are continuing to 370 do all we can through the permanent Commission to ensure the proper enforcement of the Convention by all the Governments concerned.
§ Mr. Hector HughesDoes not the hon. Gentleman realise that it is time that the International Convention was tightened up in such a way as to protect the Scottish fishing industry?
§ Mr. Brooman-WhiteI understand that there is a still further Convention, the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Convention, which will soon come into operation and will give us further power to tighten up.