§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made by his Department to non-EC Baltic and Mediterranean countries to improve effective regional fisheries management.
§ Mr. CurryThe Government have not made direct representations to non-EC Baltic and Mediterranean countries; competence for fisheries negotiations with third countries lies with the European Community. Fisheries in the Baltic are run by the International Baltic Sea Fisheries Commission in which the EC participates and in our presidency role this year we will co-ordinate views of other member states. In the Mediterranean EC member states are taking steps to improve fisheries management within their waters.
Further, on 9 June the EC Fisheries Council agreed initiatives should be taken to enable the other Mediterranean coastal states and a number of non-coastal third states whose fleets fish in the area to participate in the efforts to conserve and manage resources. The United Kingdom is always very supportive of moves to improve fisheries management.