§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made to European Commissioner Marin to challenge the imposition on British shell fishermen of an EC change in the method of measuring lobsters from carapace length to overall length, resulting in a reduction in minimum landing size; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CurryOur industry was consulted about the change in the EC rule for measuring lobsters, designed to remove ambiguity in the original EC regulation and to help fishermen by generally only requiring one measurement. We have already alerted the Commission to our concerns and have now prepared data to press the case for further and urgent modification of the rule to remove the inadvertent effect of allowing smaller lobsters to be landed than under the original regulation.