§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research has been undertaken since 1 January into the sand-eel population in waters around Scotland, and in particular, around Shetland.
§ Mr. LangRegular samples have been taken of commercial catches both at Shetland and off the west coast of Scotland since the fishery began in April. In addition, a survey of the spawning grounds around Shetland was undertaken in February 1989, and larval and 0-group sand-eels around Shetland were assessed in May and June. A survey of the fishing grounds at Shetland is also to be undertaken later this summer.
§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he proposes to increase the amount and extent of research being undertaken by his Department into the 893W sand-eel population in the waters around Scotland, and in particular around Shetland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangScientists from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland marine laboratory regularly sample commercial catches of sand-eels in Scottish waters, and earlier this year undertook surveys of larval and 0-group sand-eels and the spawning grounds around Shetland. A further survey of the Shetland fishing grounds is planned for later in the summer. The programme for further research on sand-eels in 1990 and subsequent years is currently under consideration.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, following from his announcement on licensing arrangements for the Shetland sand-eel fishery, whether he will estimate the level of fishing which the Shetland sand-eel stocks will be able to support during the first six months of 1990.
§ Mr. LangAn assessment will be made before the end of the year of the appropriate level of fishing for 1990.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any proposals to introduce a licensing system for the sand-eel fishery in the Minch similar to the one recently introduced for the Shetland sand-eel fishery; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangA licensing scheme for sand-eel fisheries in Scottish inshore waters (including the Minch) was introduced with effect from 1 July 1989 under the Sand-eel Licensing Order 1989. The detailed arrangements applying to west coast sand-eel fisheries for 1989 were announced on 13 July by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is considering the introduction of alternative methods of estimating sand-eel stocks to the present retrospective method, virtual population analysis; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangNew methods for assessing fish stocks are continually under development and scientists at the Aberdeen marine laboratory are in the process of refining the present methods for sand-eels using detailed fishing effort data and the results of research surveys. Given the data presently available, however, there is no known method of estimating the sand-eel stock size that is likely in the near future to provide a more accurate assessment than is obtained by virtual population analysis.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the percentage of stock of 1 group sand-eels that was taken by the Shetland fishery prior to and after the end of June in each of the past 15 years.
§ Mr. LangThe information requested, which has been derived from the most recent assessment by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, is as follows:
894W
Percentage of stock of 1-group taken in Shetland fishery Before end of June After end of June 1974 5.0 5.8 1975 2.8 1.0 1976 11.9 4.1
Before end of June After end of June 1977 18.9 3.0 1978 23.0 3.8 1979 17.1 3.4 1980 4.0 1.8 1981 15.1 4.5 1982 22.4 1.6 1983 10.0 3.1 1984 6.0 1.6 1985 10.7 2.5 1986 6.3 1.1 1987 11.1 1.4 1988 4.1 0.4