§ The Earl of KINNOULLMy 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 consider that the British Fishing Protection Service has adequate resources to police British waters against the plunder of our fish stocks.
The MINISTER of STATE, MINISTRY of AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES and FOOD (Earl Ferrers)My Lords, we maintain a substantial, and we believe adequate, fishery protection effort within our fishery limits. Our fishery protection resources enable us normally to have at least nine surface vessels on fishery protection duties at any one time. Aerial surveillance is also provided by RAF Nimrods and other aircraft.
§ The Earl of KINNOULLMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Is he aware of the general concern felt by the industry as to the effective policing of our fisheries and as to whether it is tight enough? Is he aware that within the limits of the six-mile and the 200-mile area it is felt that the other industries within the Community blatantly disregard some of the regulations, and so diminish our fish stocks? Finally, can he advise the House to what extent the fishery protection service now patrol the waters?
Earl FERRERSMy Lords, I am aware that many people are concerned as to the protection which is given by the fishery protection vessels, but I would let my noble friend know that during 1979 there were no fewer than 1, 808 boardings at sea to inspect the vessels which were there, and as a result of that 18 foreign vessels 724 were prosecuted and 59 United Kingdom vessels also were prosecuted. The resources available are five Royal Naval Island Class vessels which do the offshore protection; eight to 10 minesweepers of the Ton Class which do the inshore protection; two Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland offshore vessels; and two Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland inshore vessels. Therefore, there are some 18 vessels allocated to fishery protection at all times of which at any one time nine are on duty.
§ Lord BOOTHBYMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether Her Majesty's Government find the recent increase in the number of foreign vessels caught fishing illegally in British territorial waters is disturbing, or whether he thinks it is not too bad?
Earl FERRERSMy Lords, any kind of illegal fishing is disturbing. All I can tell the noble Lord, Lord Boothby, is that our fishery protection vessels are vigilant and they have, during the course of the current year, prosecuted 11 foreign vessels. Of course, there are some vessels of other countries which may invade our waters and deposit their catch elsewhere, in which case that is the responsibility for the other countries provided that we look after our own territorial waters, which I have explained that we have tried to do.
§ Lord CLIFFORD of CHUDLEIGHMy Lords, would the noble Earl and the Government bear in mind that the livelihood of the inshore fishermen off the coasts of Devon and Cornwall is not only threatened by foreign vessels?
§ Lord LEATHERLANDMy Lords, can the noble Minister tell us whether these fishery protection vessels, in addition to protecting our fishing rights, also do anything to protect, defend, or safeguard our oil rigs in the North Sea?
Earl FERRERSYes, my Lords, they do. The five Royal Naval Island Class vessels to which I referred are built for offshore protection, which refers to both fish and oil.
§ Lord BALFOUR of INCHRYEMy Lords, would the Government re-examine once again the possibility of using dirigibles for coastal protection work? They are of long endurance, are economic, and are beautifully slow as compared to aircraft.
Earl FERRERSMy Lords, we use a number of different machines. I do not think we use the ones to which my noble friend has referred, but I shall certainly take note of his suggestion.