HL Deb 14 November 1988 vol 501 cc907-8WA
Lord Moran

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they still consider that the measures outlined by Mr. John Selwyn Gummer, MP, then Minister of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, on 29th February 1988 [H.C Deb., Cols. 476–7] are appropriate for the long-term management of the bass fishery; and if so—

  1. (a) why the increase in the national minimum landing size for bass has been deferred from 1st January 1989 to 1st January 1990;
  2. (b) why no decision has been taken on the establishment of 24 proposed nursery areas;
  3. (c) why a further consultative exercise about the establishment of these nursery areas is to be carried out when two such exercises have already taken place; and
  4. (d) when the 24 nursery areas will be established, in view of scientific opinion that such areas are necessary for the protection of the species.

Baroness Trumpington

We consider that the range of measures announced by my honourable friend the then Minister of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 29th February 1988 are the appropriate means for the long-term management of the bass fishery. My honourable friend Mr. Donald Thompson, MP, Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry with responsibility for fisheries matters, explained in his reply to a question on 27th July how these measures—and the timing of their application—would be modified in detail to meet the many points put to the Ministry throughout its consultations with local and national interests.

Specifically, the proposed date for the increase in the minimum landing size for bass was deferred until 1st January 1990 so as to coincide with the introduction of new mesh controls and to enable fishermen a further year in which to adjust their fishing practices. On the establishment of nursery areas, there has been much support for the principles involved and acknowledgement of the benefits these can have for the protection of juvenile stocks in inshore areas and estuaries. We have concluded, however, that more detailed work is needed on the precise areas to be delineated and the restrictions applying within them.

There will be further consultations at local level on the many points raised by both recreational and commercial interests. This second set of consultations will proceed as soon as possible. In the meantime, we judged it right to announce the proposed measures on mesh sizes and minimum landing sizes as soon as possible—rather than await the completion of the further necessary work on nursery areas—so as to give all interests maximum notice of the changes ahead.