§ 2.45 p.m.
Viscount MASSEREENE and FER RARDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name in the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they contemplate any form of control by licence or otherwise over persons who fish commercially by skin-diving.
The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of INDUSTRY (LORD BESWIOK)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government would if necessary take steps to conserve fish stocks, but are not on present evidence contemplating any special control over skin-diving.
§ Viscount MASSEREENE and FERRARDMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Is he aware that skin-divers can clear an area of shellfish very quickly, to the detriment of long-established local fishermen using traditional methods? Further, is the Minister aware that if there are too many skin-divers in an area they might be run down by boats; and does he realise that a skin-diver might even be mistaken for a seal and shot?
§ Lord BESWICKMy Lords, I confess that I find it difficult to reconcile the noble Viscount's approach to private enterprise with the implication of what he is saying, that skin-divers should be controlled. There is no legislation available which would enable us to control them, nor have we any intention of bringing such legislation before Parliament.
§ Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEYMy Lords, is the Minister aware that there are certain fish farming occupations infested by skin-divers who are thieving and the proper fish farmer has no protection whatsoever? This is a matter that needs looking into from the legislative point of view.
§ Lord BESWICKYes, my Lords, the conservation of fish is important. There have been two studies, the results of one of which will be made available shortly. They do not, I am given to understand, i bear out the allegations made by the noble 1040 Baroness or the noble Viscount. My information regarding crayfish, for example, is that when pots were used something like 60 per cent. were taken by the pots and 40 per cent. by skin-divers. Now that professional fishermen have gone over to nets, the total taken by skin-divers is as little as 10 per cent.
§ Viscount MASSEREENE and FERRARDMy Lords, does the noble Lord realise that commercial fishing boats have to be licensed? Therefore, why cannot skin-divers be licensed? The noble Lord referred to the proportion of crayfish taken by skin-divers, but that depends on how many skin-divers you have. If they increase in numbers, a lot more crayfish will be taken.
§ Lord BESWICKMy Lords, may I suggest that if the noble Viscount and the noble Baroness have any information to bear out the rather excessive allegations that they are making, I shall be glad to see it. The investigations which have been made by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries do not bear out what they are saying.
§ Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEYMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he will be kind enough to let us have a copy of the report when it is available?
§ Lord BESWICKMy Lords, I will make it available to enable the noble Baroness to read it. It will not, however, be published.