§ 6. Mr. SummersonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to protect the bass nursery stocks.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonAs I announced on 27 July, we shall increase the minimum landing size for bass and introduce restrictions on the use of gill and similar nets with a mesh size between 65mm and 89mm. These 1002 measures are to take effect from 1 January 1990. There will be further consultations with local interests about establishing nursery areas to protect juvenile bass stocks.
§ Mr. SummersonI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. He will be aware that sea bass is a slow-growing fish and that it is essential that stocks be conserved. Will he therefore consider the matter rather more urgently and designate nursery areas for these fish to come into effect before 1990?
§ Mr. ThompsonThe matter is complicated because of the various sections of the community who have an interest in bass stocks and catch bass. I think that it will take a couple of years before we can reconcile the various interests.
§ Mr. WardMy hon. Friend will be aware that fishermen on the south coast are not convinced of the need for the measures that he is about to introduce. More important is the fact that the measures will not apply to our EEC partners. That seems to be one more example of unfair competition with other members of the Community. On reflection, will my hon. Friend agree to withhold the new measures until they are applied throughout the EEC? Will he ensure that fishermen in places such as Poole are given the maximum, not the minimum, time to make the adjustments?
§ Mr. ThompsonYou, Mr. Speaker, have just heard both sides of the argument. It is vital that bass stocks be protected from as early a date as possible after proper negotiations. We must try to persuade the Europeans to come along with us while we are trying to persuade some of my hon. Friend's constituents to be more enthusiastic about the future of the industry on which they place such great reliance.