§ 2. Mr. Laurance Reedasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what efforts his Department is making towards identifying and developing fishing grounds as an alternative to the Icelandic catch.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartThe identification and development of new fishing grounds is a regular part of fisheries research and development programmes. One of the Ministry's vessels recently completed a voyage to the west of the British Isles to establish the practicability of trawling in deep water. The results are being evaluated and plans for further investigations are being made.
§ Mr. ReedBearing in mind what happened in the last dispute with Iceland and the weight of international opinion towards fishery limits, does not my hon. Friend agree that it would be of more help to our fishermen if we were prepared to offer them effective and generous assistance now in adjusting to the changes in sea law that will come?
§ Mr. StodartI would say firmly to my hon. Friend that the object of the explorations is not primarily to find alternatives to traditional grounds where we have the right to fish but to find additional resources which are not as yet exploited.
§ Mr. Charles MorrisonWhat hopes has my hon. Friend of the development of fish farming replacing the traditional fishing grounds in respect of all sorts of fish?
§ Mr. StodartAs my hon. Friend knows, experiments are taking place, which are showing signs of considerable success. Trout farming is already an established commercial proposition. The White Fish Authority is being successful in the commercial production of white fish, and successful experiments are also taking place with salmon.