§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about catches of herring made by EEC vessels in the North Sea in defiance of the EEC ban; and whether he will ask other member countries urgently to enforce a total ban on landings to stop such catches.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThere is no Community ban on fishing for herring in the North Sea. Member States bordering the area prohibit directed fishing for herring under their national laws, though provision is usually made to allow for by-catches up to a given percentage of any landing.
Statistics on recent landings of herring are not available though there have been reports of infringements and prosecutions in other member States. I hope that all EEC member States will fully enforce the international scientific recommendations. Her Majesty's Government will continue to enforce our own national ban on directed fishing on all vessels in that part of the North Sea within United Kingdom waters without discrimination.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will cause inquiries to be made in France, Holland and Denmark to assess the extent of herring landings.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerHer Majesty's Government make available to Governments of other EEC member States details of landings in the United Kingdom by vessels of those States, and also seek and receive reports of landings by United Kingdom vessels in those countries to enable EEC and national rules on fishing including herring fishing to be enforced.
Enforcement of national rules is a matter for the State concerned.