HL Deb 05 May 1976 vol 370 cc534-5

2.58 p.m.

Lord VERNON

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 accept that large purseseiners fishing for mackerel are accustomed to reject several nets of fish before obtaining a net of the quality desired, that up to 50 per cent. of the fish rejected can die in the process and that as a result, over 100 tons of saleable fish can be destroyed as the result of a single rejection.

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, sampling of shoals of fish to determine whether they meet market requirements is undoubtedly carried out by both purse-seiners and conventional trawlers. The problem of rejection and slipping of catches is one of the issues which Her Majesty's Government are currently pursuing in connection with general provisions for the conservation of mackerel stocks which the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission is soon to consider.

Lord VERNON

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that reply and for saying that an investigation is to be carried out. Is he aware that qualified observers in the fishing industry have considerable evidence that large quantities of mackerel are being destroyed in the way suggested? If the result of the investigation bears this out, will the Government take very firm action to prevent this really shocking waste of valuable protein?

Lord STRABOLGI

Yes, my Lords, we shall certainly take note of what the noble Lord has said. There is reason to suppose that the biology of mackerel would lead to a lower survival rate than is normal in such circumstances. My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is seeking scientific advice on this point. Until then, if the noble Lord does not mind, I would rather not comment on the figures which he has given in his Question.

Lord CLIFFORD of CHUDLEIGH

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that this problem was raised in my debate on the problems of the far South-West? Is he further aware that these dead fish which are dumped by the purse seiners—and in this case it was the trawlers which came from Scotland—cause great difficulty for those who are legitimately fishing for bottom-feeding fish? Can he tell us when we shall have an agreement to divide the Channel between ourselves and the French so as to keep the Scots and the Russians out and conserve our stocks?

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, as a spokesman for the Scottish Office, I should like to say that our policy is not to discriminate between United Kingdom fishermen. When there is a proven conservation need, it should apply fully and fairly to all our fishermen. However, I am glad to tell the noble Lord that officials are holding meetings with the producers' organisations concerned to consider how best the points made can be met.

Lord HOY

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that this complaint has been going on for a considerable time? I am sure that what the fishing industry want is an assurance that these inquiries will be expedited to prevent any further deterioration and waste in this respect. If my noble friend can give an assurance that the matter will be expedited, I am sure that this will bring satisfaction to all concerned.

Lord STRABOLGI

Yes, my Lords; I am happy to give my noble friend that assurance.

Lord LOVAT

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that not only mackerel but herring, in immature stages of their life, are ground into fish meal which is very wasteful, bearing in mind both the dumping and the shortage of both types of fish in the sea?

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, although that is a different question, I can tell the noble Lord, Lord Lovat, that past indiscriminate fishing, in the absence of quota controls, has been responsible for the decline in herring stocks. But I am sure that he and other noble Lords will agree that regulating the total quantity of fish taken is more important than discriminating against particular methods of fishing.