§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on the proposed amendment to the EC regulation 3094/86 to restrict the use of drift nets to prevent fishing of tuna and billfish and limit net lengths to less than 2.5 km on boats registered in EC member states; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe United Kingdom fully supported the United Nations resolution to curtail or ban the use of large-scale pelagic drift net fishing on the high seas. We are currently examining carefully the Commission's proposal, made available to member states on 10 December, although not in final form, which would limit the use of any drift nets to 2.5 km per boat whatever the target species. It should be noted that very few United Kingdom vessels use drift nets with an aggregate length of more than 2.5 km.