§ Sir D. Robertsonasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will invite to an early meeting in London, Ministers responsible for fisheries in Belgium, Denmark, Eire, France, Germany, Holland, Iceland, Norway, Portugal, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Spain and Sweden, to consider and decide on immediate action to stop over fishing and to protect fishing grounds thereafter by annual fishing prohibition during spawning seasons or by quantitative control.
§ Sir T. DugdaleThe prevention of overfishing in the waters which are exploited by the fleets of the countries of Northern and Western Europe is the object of the Overfishing Convention of 1946, to which those countries are parties. I am glad to be able to say that the Convention has now been ratified by all the signatories and will, therefore, enter into force on 5th April this year, by which date general effect is expected to have been given to the provisions concerning the 'retention, landing and sale of immature fish. The provisions for increasing the minimum size of mesh of nets will not be generally introduced at that date, as most countries require time to use up stocks of existing nets.
All the countries which are parties to the Convention have, therefore, been invited to send representatives to a meeting in London early next month to discuss that matter and the setting up of the Permanent Commission for which the 59W Convention provides and which will have the task of considering what further conservation measures may be required.