Blue Whiting (Hansard, 20 April 1978)

§ 1. Mr. Brotherton
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with representatives of the fishing industry about fishing for blue whiting.

§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. E. S. Bishop)
My officials keep in close touch with the industry about the exploitation of the blue whiting fishery.

§ Mr. Brotherton
Is the Minister aware of the great contribution that blue whiting could make to the British fishing industry both industrially and for human consumption? Is he aware that other EEC countries assist their fishing industries in research into the use and catching of blue whiting? Is he aware that just 20 hours-worth of British Steel money would be of inestimable value to the British fishing industry?

§ Mr. Russell Kerr
Why blue whiting?

§ Mr. Bishop
I largely agree with the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Brotherton). Blue whiting is a species of major importance and one which, in the years ahead, could help to offset the reduction in the United Kingdom of other species that are in shorter supply. On operating aid for blue whiting fishing, no convincing case for direct aid has been made at present but the Ministry and the Government have, in various ways, given significant aid. We have given about £1.4 million in the last four years and there will be a further input in the 1978 season.

§ Mr. Watt
Blue whiting may have a role in the future, but will the Minister turn his attention in the present to the immediate problem of mesh net sizes being used by the French, Belgian and Danish fishermen—

§ Mr. Speaker
That is another question completely. We must have fair play.

§ Mr. Watt
All right, Mr. Speaker, may 1 put another question? What is the Minister doing about mesh net sizes—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. We are dealing with blue whiting.

§ Mr. Bishop
I thought that the hon. Member might have referred to the fact that we are undertaking very significant work in research into blue whiting, and the filleting and processing problems in the Torry research station at Aberdeen. On his particular question, I remind him that this is a matter which the Minister and many others are pursuing earnestly in the common fisheries policy review that is now taking place.