HL Deb 16 February 1976 vol 368 cc307-9

2.43 p.m.

Lord BOOTHBY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware that the North Sea herring fishing industry is now dying primarily because of ruthless overfishing of immature herring for industrial purposes; and whether they will call an international conference of the countries directly concerned—the USSR, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and France—to consider what steps should be taken to preserve stocks of herring and bring about a revival of this once great industry.

The MINISTER of STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (Lord Kirkhill)

My Lords, the Government are fully aware of the dangers to the North Sea herring stock and have taken several initiatives to secure international agreement on measures of control, including the calling of a special meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission to be held in London on 21st to 24th April next at which all the countries mentioned in the noble Lord's Question will be represented. Agreement has already been reached on a ban on fishing for herring for industrial purposes and on the quantities which may be taken up to 30th June 1976, and it will now be necessary to reach agreement on the quantities which may be taken in the main fishing season during the second half of 1976.

Lord BOOTHBY

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether the Government are aware that in my time there were two great fishings, a summer fishing off the Buckle coast out of Fraser-burgh and Peterhead and an autumn fishing out of Yarmouth and Lowestoft, and that we sold over 1 million barrels of herring to Western Europe and Russia in those days? Is the noble Lord aware that for all practical purposes those two fishings are now extinct? Is he further aware that if we do not take some measure to conserve the stocks of herring—and other fish arc also threatened at the moment, including mackerel—in two or three years' time the North Sea will be bereft of herring, to the disaster of us all? Will Her Majesty's Government make every effort to get an international conference on the conservation of fish in the North Sea and the surrounding areas?

Lord KIRKHILL

My Lords, the Government are aware of the very real problems which the noble Lord has described. Certainly the Government are aware that, as against the position 10 or 12 years ago, there is now a stock of approximately one-tenth of that which obtained at the time to which the noble Lord referred. I give the House an assurance that this conference is being called and that a Government initiative to stabilise quota is very much on the agenda.

Lord HAWKE

My Lords, can the noble Lord say whether any experiments are taking place to see if one can kipper or bloater the blue whiting, which apparently is available on the Western Approaches?

Lord KIRKHILL

My Lords, continuing scientific analysis of that difficulty is meantime in progress at the Torry Research Station in Aberdeen.

Lord BOOTHBY

My Lords, I remember the days when one could buy half-a-dozen herring for a few pence Now they have become a luxury fish, and surely that is scandalous.

Lord KIRKHILL

My Lords, in part the difficulty has been the industrial trawl and the fact that in catching sprats other nations have taken into the net so much of the herring stock.

Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDE

My Lords, in view of the noble Lord's Answer to this very important Question, may I ask whether he is aware that it appears that the Government are taking some action and that they ought to be congratulated? May they go on full speed with the action which they appear to be taking!

Lord BRUCE of DONINGTON

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that four of the countries named in the Question are Members of the European Economic Community? May we have an indication of the steps he proposes to take, through the European Economic Commission, to ensure that some remedial steps are taken as an interim on this question of over-fishing?

Lord KIRKHILL

My Lords, each country has its own vested interest in this very real and difficult problem of fish conservation. Each, of course, has certain fishing areas best aligned unto itself. My advice is that the Government are convening the conference in April; beyond that I do not think I can go at this stage.

Lord SLATER

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that, coming from the North, I was always led to believe from the fishing industry that the mackerel was looked upon as the scavenger of the sea? Is that still the view?

Lord KIRKHILL

My Lords, the main Question refers to the depletion of the herring stock in the North Sea. I would need notice of my noble friend's supplementary question.