Inshore Fishermen (South Coast) (Hansard, 9 December 1976)

§ 1. Mr. Warren
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what part his Department is taking in talks with other Governments concerning the protection of the livelihoods of inshore fishermen working from South Coast harbours.

§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. E. S. Bishop)
The Ministry is involved in talks with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other Departments in negotiation with the Community to safeguard the interests of everyone in the fishing industry, including South Coast fishermen.

§ Mr. Warren
Does the Minister realise that fishermen all along the South Coast are getting very worried about the failure of both his Department and the Foreign Office in Brussels to fight as hard as is necessary for those fishermen's protection, and that they view with great 600 trepidation the massacre of the fishing fleets that they have seen to the north and wonder whether it will come to them as well?

§ Mr. Bishop
The hon. Gentleman will recall the meeting that he had with me and my officials on matters of enforcement, and the fact that he has himself been to sea with the enforcement fleet to see what really happens. In further answer to his original Question, my officials have been in touch with the Belgian authorities on various matters affecting that part of the coast, and we are still in touch. In the matters now being discussed here in regard to our Fishery Limits Bill, there may be ways of overcoming some of these problems.

§ Mr. Luce
Has the Minister made it absolutely clear in Brussels that all the evidence from the Sussex inshore fishermen is that the Belgians have far exceeded their quota? How can our inshore fishermen possibly have faith in a system which is grossly abused by other countries?

§ Mr. Bishop
According to my information, there is no evidence of this. According to the latest NEAFC figures, relating to the period January-September last, Belgian fishermen have taken less than the average amount of their quotas for both sole and plaice. We are in close touch with the Belgian authorities to see that enforcement is effective.