§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what basis his Department will decide on the appropriateness of conservation measures for the Shetland sand eel fishery if it proves difficult both to estimate the maximum sustainable yield and to advise on an appropriate total allowable catch for the Shetland sand eel stock; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe health of the Shetland sand eel stocks depends to a very large extent on the levels of recruitment of juvenile fish, which fluctuate because of natural factors, as well as the level of the fishery. Below a certain level of stock size recruitment levels are likely to be affected by the abundance of spawning fish and the prime562W objective, so far as possible, will be to maintain the spawning stock above the critical level. The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland will be discussing with industry representatives possible conservation measures.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the percentage of 0 and 1 group sand eels in catches from Shetland waters in each month of each of the past five years.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe information requested is given in the table.
Percentage of 0- and 1- Group Jana Eels by weight 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 March 0-group — — — — 1-group — — — 94.8 11.1 April 0-group — — — — — 1-group 42.7 69.1 27.2 64.4 2.1 May 0-group — — — — — 1-group 28.6 37.7 18.6 65.7 6.1 June 0-group 17.0 2.7 13.3 1.3 6.2 1-group 34.2 38.7 20.8 61.3 5.3 July 0-group 50.6 23.6 62.4 27.3 93.6 1-group 29.5 21.5 32.4 49.5 0.5 August 0-group 75.4 55.9 45.8 40.3 64.3 1-group 13.2 25.1 18.8 32.2 5.0 September 0-group 87.3 84.3 92.1 78.5 86.6 1-group 9.5 8.9 4.6 9.0 4.6 October 0-group 1— 1— 97.7 2.6 1— 1-group 1— 1— 22.3 22.8 1— 1—No sampling—catches very small.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions in 1988 catches of fishing vessels attempting to land sand eels from Shetland waters were found to exceed 25 per cent. by weight of fish of less than 3in long; what was the percentage of small sand eels in any such catches; what was the method of disposal for these catches; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythOf the 42 samples examined during 1988, two contained more than 25 per cent. by weight of sand eels less than 7.5cm; the percentage of small sand eels was 26.5 and 37.9 respectively; and both catches were sent for reduction to meal and oil. Sampling data are not, however, comprehensive. The level of incidence of small sand eels in catches may depend on recruitment levels, the effects of the voluntary restrictions on catches of small sand eels, or both.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will outline the steps taken by his Department to monitor the voluntary measures taken by Shetland fishermen to reduce the catches of the youngest sand eels in Shetland waters; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythRegular samples are provided voluntarily to scientists of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland. The number of landings sampled each month since the voluntary restrictions were introduced are as follows: 563W
1987 1988 March 1 1 April 14 4 May 9 16 June 9 11 July 11 2 August 6 4 September 1 4 October 1 —
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the level of recruitment of sand eels to(a) the Shetland population, (b) the northern North sea, north of 563òN, and (c) the southern North sea in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe information requested is given in the table.
Thousand millions of O-group sand eels at 1 July Shetland Northern North sea north of 56°30'N Southern North sea (1) (2) (1) (1) 1984 21 29 47 148 1985 10 21 255 653 1986 36 19 202 138 1987 — 2 — — 1988 — 21 — — Source:
(1) International Council for the Exploration of the Seas.
(2) Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland (new assessments); figures for 1987 and 1988 are provisional.
The very low figure for Shetland for 1987 reflects the incidence of the poorest year class since the fishery began in 1974. The 1988 year class is also thought to be below the average over the period 1974–86. Scientific assessment indicates that recruitment is affected primarily by natural factors affecting the first six months of sand eel life, and that the decline in stocks has not been caused primarily by the commercial fishery.