§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will report on progress with catches and processing of blue whiting and blue ling.
§ Mr. BishopI understand that catches of blue whiting by British trawlers this season should exceed the 2,000 tonnes caught in 1976. A proportion of the catch is being used for experimental work in the continued development of processing of fish for human consumption. The remainder of the catch is being used for fish meal.
Seasonal shoals of blue ling at present off the north of Scotland are also being fished by British trawlers and marketed for human consumption.