§ 80 and 81. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Agriculture (1) if he will make a statement on the results to Britain of the meeting, held last week in London, of the delegates of the signatory countries of the Overfishing Convention, 1946;
(2) what agreement or decision the countries who signed the Overfishing Convention, 1946, have reached on the minimum sizes of mesh of nets which may be used in the waters covered by that Convention, and on the minimum sizes of different species of fish which may be landed and sold.
§ Mr. NugentI am glad to be able to inform the House of the successful outcome of last week's meeting of signatory countries of the Overfishing Convention of 1946. Representatives attended the meeting from Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Irish Republic, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Poland, also a signatory, was invited but did not attend.
131WAgreement was reached on the period necessary for using up existing stocks before introducing nets of the size of mesh laid down in the Convention; and all countries represented have undertaken to apply by 5th April, 1954, measures enforcing the minimum size of mesh and the minimum size limits of fish which may be landed or sold, which are laid down in the Convention.
It was also agreed that the first meeting of the Permanent Commission, to be set up under Article 12 of the Convention, should be held in London on the 5th May this year and succeeding days, when this body will initiate its important task of considering what further measures may be necessary for the proper conservation of the stocks of fish in the waters covered by the Convention.