§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the effect on employment in the fishing industry as a result of meeting the latest multi-annual guidance targets in respect of(a) beam trawl, (b) demersal trawl, (c) nephrops trawl, (d) seiners and (e) shellfish mobile.
§ Mr. CurryThe aim of the latest multi-annual guidance programme targets is to bring the various segments of the fleet into a better balance with the fish stocks that they exploit. A detailed breakdown of employment in the various segments of the fleet is not available but it is inevitable that fleet reductions, through decommissioning818W which the industry has demanded, will mean some loss of jobs in the industry. However, if stocks are allowed to collapse the jobs of all fishermen will be at risk.