HC Deb 21 November 1991 vol 199 c291W
19. Mrs. Margaret Ewing

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on the implementation of measures to conserve fish stocks in the European Community.

Mr. Curry

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Porter) on 6 November following the EC Council of Fisheries Ministers on 28 October 1991. At that meeting, we secured a package of important measures to improve the conservation of fish stocks; these will be implemented from 1 June 1992.

25. Mr. Michael Brown

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken recently to improve the conservation of fish stocks.

Mr. Curry

In July the United Kingdom introduced a unilateral requirement for square mesh panels in certain nets to reduce the catch and discard of immature fish. At the October Fisheries Council we secured an important package of EC measures which will greatly improve the conservation of fish stocks.