Mr. W. H. K. Bakerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the strength of the inshore fishing fleet by categories registered in ports in England and Wales in each of the past five years to the nearest convenient date.
§ Mr. PriorDetails of the inshore fishing fleet of England and Wales as at 31st December in each of the last five years are:
Year Registered Under Length Total 40ft. 40–79.9ft. 1966 2,259 543 2,802 1967 2,201 562 2,763 1968 2,265 610 2,875 1969 2,348 631 2,979 1970 (provisional) 2,292 675 2,967 As far as possible these figures exclude vessels registered as fishing vessels but which are not engaged in commercial fishing.