HC Deb 14 March 1985 vol 75 cc421-2
4. Mr. Wallace

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department is taking to monitor the Norwegian pout fishery in the North sea for the purpose of checking the percentage by-catch.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. John MacGregor)

The fisheries protection service, under the direction of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, has conducted extensive sampling of catches in the Norway pout fishery since October. Up to the end of February, 64 vessels had been boarded at sea, and the catches from a further 15 vessels had been checked on landing. Of the 79 vessels checked, 80 per cent. had less than a 10 per cent. by-catch of the species concerned, mainly haddock and whiting. Only one was over the 18 per cent. limit, and a successful prosecution resulted.

Mr. Wallace

The amount of monitoring that is going on will be recognised, but I am sure that the Minister will equally acknowledge that there is still a great sense of grievance in the fishing industry at the increased by-catch. I am sure he is aware that a boat, under the auspices of the Scottish Fishing Federation, is conducting its own monitoring exercise. If the result of that shows that damage is being done to white fish stocks by the current pout fishery, will he give due weight to that experiment and ensure that it increases his resolve to resist any extension of the present 18 per cent. by-catch rule beyond 31 May?

Mr. MacGregor

As the hon. Gentleman knows, we secured substantial changes in the proposal last year without any support whatever. If the proposal for an extension is put forward—and that is not known at this stage—it will have to be considered in the light of the monitoring of fisheries under the present rules and in the light of the latest scientific advice. Obviously, we shall look at all the evidence. Our paramount consideration which is also the paramount interest of our fishermen, is to ensure that there is adequate protection of the juvenile component of the North sea white fish stocks.

Mr. Donald Stewart

I welcome the Minister's figures for current monitoring, but will he bear in mind that a 10 per cent. by-catch was presented to fishermen as the final settled common fisheries policy? The increase to 18 per cent. was regarded as a sell-out. It is therefore essential that no extension of that is permitted. If, as the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace) suggests, there is any attempt to raise it, Scottish fishermen will make an unholy effort to obstruct that.

Mr. MacGregor

With regard to the common fisheries policy, I think that it has always been understood that changes can be made on conservation aspects. Last year I made it clear to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Wallace) that I thought that United Kingdom fishermen were unlikely to suffer any reduction in their effective fishing opportunities, particularly in the fishing of whiting — which is what people were concerned about—as a result of the change. I think that that has proved to be so, because we did not reach our full whiting quota last year. We have managed to obtain a substantially increased whiting quota this year, which suggests that the conservation effects are not as people originally suggested. However, I shall certainly monitor the position very carefully.

Mr. Home Robertson

Does the Minister accept that it is vital that the edible fish stocks that have been reestablished, largely as a result of sacrifices made by British fishermen, should be protected? In the light of the evidence which the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in Scotland obtain, and in the light of that secured following the exercise carried out by the Scottish Fishing Federation, will the hon. Gentleman undertake to do everything possible to protect those fish stocks from over-fishing?

Mr. MacGregor

Yes, and I agree that the adequate protection of our stocks is a key consideration. That is one of the points that we shall have most in mind in approaching any changes within the common fisheries policy.