§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he will take to protect the fishing industry in Northern Ireland in connection with proposals being considered by the European Community involving the imposition of quotas on cod and whiting.
§ Mr. HanleyThe Commission's proposals for 1991 total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas were considered at the Fisheries Council held on 19 and 20 December. Ministerial colleagues from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Scottish Office represented the United Kingdom at Council and were fully briefed, by a senior Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland official who accompanied them, on the importance of Irish sea cod and whiting (and other important stocks) to the Northern Ireland fishing industry. At Council they were successful in achieving increases in the Commission's original proposals from 6,000 tonnes to 10,000 tonnes in the cod TAC and from 6,400 tonnes to 10,000 tonnes in the whiting TAC which gave the United Kingdom 1991 quotas of 3,355 tonnes for cod and 3,865 tonnes for whiting. In addition quota swaps of 410 tonnes of cod and 320 tonnes of whiting from other member states have been agreed. This outcome represents a reasonable balance between the more immediate requirements of fishermen and the need to conserve stocks in the longer term interests of the industry.