§ Mr. Beithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what means the increase in the minimum mesh size of shrimp nets from 16mm to 30mm on 1 April 1981 was made known to fishermen; and whether he will seek a period of grace in the enforcement of this provision in the light of the fact that many fishermen were unaware of the impending increase and invested in nets of less than 30mm.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithMinimum mesh sizes of 30mm when fishing for Pandalus (prawns) and 20mm when fishing for Crangon (shrimps) are laid down by Council regulation (EEC) No. 2527/80 which came into effect on 1 October 1980. However, the regulation provided that 16mm nets could be used until 31 March 1981 when fishing for Pandalus and until 30 September 1981 when fishing for Crangon.
In October 1980 officials in my Department sent a copy of the regulation to the main fishing organisations in England and Wales with an explanatory letter which specifically drew attention to these changes. The increases in mesh sizes are a necessary conservation measure and I do not consider that further delays in their implementation would be justified.