Council of Agriculture Ministers (Hansard, 7 December 1984)

§ Mr. Jopling

Together with my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State, Scottish Office, and my hon. Friend the Minister of State in my Department, I represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers on 4 December.

The Council agreed guide prices for fishery products for 1985 on the basis of a compromise proposal by the Presidency, which was generally satisfactory from the United Kingdom point of view.

It was agreed that the prohibition on fishing for mackerel to the west of Scotland north of 58°N from 1 to 31 December 1984 should be lifted, an accordance with the latest scientific advice. This decision was a very important one for our pelagic fleet as most of the mackerel catches off the west coast are still being taken north of 58°. This means that this fishery will be able to continue, within the United Kingdom quota of 234,700 tonnes, for the rest of the year. There was also general agreement to postpone the deadline for a decision on an increase in the minimum 290W mesh size in the English Channel until 1 July 1987 but we reservezd our position pending completion of Parliamentary scrutiny procedures.

The council approved the arrangements for 1985 negotiated with Sweden under the EC/Sweden framework agreement. There were also informal discussions on the continuing negotiations between the Community and Norway on the arrangements for 1985 under the EC/Norway agreement. I urged the Commission to stand firm on the question of Norway's allocation of North sea herring next year and this was agreed. In a discussion of the continuing negotiations between the Community and the Faroe islands, we emphasised the importance we attached to a reduction in the Faroes intercepting fishery on Atlantic salmon.

The council discussed the problem raised by overfishing by some member states of the Community's allocation of saithe in the North sea. An increase in the Community availability was adopted on a basis agreed with Norway which will allow three member states to continue or to resume fishing. The United Kingdom received an additional quota of about 400 tonnes. I asked the Commission to report to the Council in due course on the results of the year's activities of its Inspectorate of Inspectorates in supervising the enforcement of Community rules by the member states. It undertook to do so. I also asked the Commission to prepare a report to the Council on the general question of overfishing of quotas and any appropriate arrangements for compensation by the member states responsible. This was generally welcomed and could be very important in encouraging greater discipline in future.

There was a discussion of the supply and demand situation within the Community for herring on the basis of a report by the Commission and it was agreed in principle to open a small additional tariff-free quota for the period 1 January to 15 February 1985 for the purposes of manufacturers of specialised products.