§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what efforts are currently being undertaken by his Department to monitor the number of dolphins and other non-target animals killed in fishing gear, and to control fisheries with a high incidence of kills; and if he will make it his policy to set a target date for the reduction of by-catch non-target species to zero.
§ Mr. CurryA voluntary reporting scheme was introduced on 1 January 1992. On information available whilst accidental catches occur in our waters these are limited and not of the substantial numbers as have been seen in the east Pacific yellow fin tuna fishery. Our policy is that accidental catches should be avoided as far as possible. Further research to assist this is in hand.