§ 10. Sir Archy Kirkwood (Roxburgh and Berwickshire)If she will make a statement on progress with the implementation of the EU North sea cod recovery plan. [133791]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Ben Bradshaw)We have already taken measures to implement the interim cod recovery plan. We will be considering further such measures in the light of the latest scientific advice, consultation with the industry and the outcome of the December Agriculture and Fisheries Council.
§ Sir Archy KirkwoodWill the Minister use his influence to try to discourage the scientists at the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas ICES—from issuing headline-grabbing press releases two days before today's publication of a very sensitive piece of scientific research by ICES? Such behaviour really is not helpful. Can he also assure the House that he understands the importance of the North sea fleet having continuing access to demersal or white fish stocks next year, even if that means delinking haddock from the remaining stages of the cod recovery programme; otherwise, there will be no sustainable onshore or offshore industry left? Does he understand that the economic consequences of the total closure of the North sea next year would be devastating for many of the coastal communities around the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. BradshawThe short answer to those three questions is yes. I share the hon. Gentleman's discontent with the way in which ICES handles the release of information, by issuing a press release on Monday and the final report on Friday. I also understand that in the meantime some of the recommendations have changed.
On the second point, we will do whatever we can to mitigate any impact that the cod recovery plan has on other stocks, although I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will accept that we have to ensure that it is possible technically or through other measures to carry on catching shellfish and haddock, which are profitable and the stocks are plentiful, without catching cod as a by-catch. On the general economic impact on the North sea, he is right: a total closure would be absolutely devastating.
§ Lawrie Quinn (Scarborough and Whitby)My hon. Friend will probably remember his visit to my constituency in the early part of the summer. When he visits the coastal communities, is he picking up information from the quayside about the effectiveness of enforcement measures, which are a key component of the recovery plan? Does he propose to come back to the north-east and Yorkshire to hear concerns about whether an effective enforcement system is being applied to ensure that the recovery plan works so that we can have a sustainable fishery in the North sea?
§ Mr. BradshawYes, I remember with great fondness my visit to my hon. Friend's constituency, in particular a very smoky kipper that I had for breakfast, and I will endeavour to return as soon as possible. I feel that it would be just to other hon. Members, however, if I managed to visit their constituencies before I returned to one I had already visited.
On enforcement, my hon. Friend is right. The common fisheries policy makes no sense unless we can have some faith that there is a level playing field in enforcement throughout the European Union. That is something about which the Commission is very exercised. Indeed, it has an action plan to rectify it.
§ Pete Wishart (North Tayside)Can the Minister explain why, when the, scientific assessment suggests that Scotland's major fish, the haddock, is at the highest level for 30 years, European scientists are recommending a complete ban on fishing in the North sea, which is ridiculous?
§ Mr. BradshawThat is because the haddock stock level is based on a single year, 1999. It is perfectly possible to have a good single year in which many haddock are born, which does not necessarily mean that the biomass, which is the important measurement of the health of the stock, is as healthy as that would indicate. I agree with the hon. Gentleman inasmuch as there are plenty of haddock. Fishermen are catching plenty of them. If we can do what we can to decouple haddock and shellfish from cod in the forthcoming negotiations, we will do so, but we need the evidence, which we are collecting. We are spending money collecting it with the fishermen on their vessels to satisfy ourselves that that is possible.