HC Deb 24 May 1973 vol 857 cc150-1W
Mr. James Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a White Paper setting out the issues at stake between Iceland and the United Kingdom in the fisheries dispute and outlining the past history involved.

Mr. Anthony Royle

Yes.

Mr. Laurance Reed

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he recognises Iceland's exclusive right to fisheries belonging to the sedentary species beyond the 12-mile limit.

Mr. Anthony Royle

Yes. Under the 1958 Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf, which in this respect is declaratory of customary international law, Iceland has the exclusive right to exploit the sedentary species of fish on the Continental Shelf. This right does not extend to free-swimming fish in the superjacent waters.

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