Fisheries (Hansard, 17 May 1994)

§ Mr. David Porter
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many fishing vessels left the non-sector to join fish producer organisations between 1993 and 1994; how much cod quota in total and per boat average went with them; and if she will make a statement.

§ Mr. Jack
Between 1 January 1993 and 1 January 1994, 146 vessels moved from the non-sector to producer organisations. Information about the cod quota attributable to the vessels which left the non-sector is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

§ Mr. David Porter
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries asnd Food if she will make it her policy to persuade the European Commission to abandon fishing discards before Norway joins the European Union.

§ Mr. Jack
Discards occur since different species and sizes of fish are caught together. If fishermen are to comply with the current common fisheries policy rules on quotas and minimum landing sizes they necessarily have to discard fish which cannot be legally landed. In Norwegian waters the mix of species and the legal requirements are different and a discard ban is in operation. Under its accession treaty, Norway has been authorised to maintain its discard ban for three years.
The Government support the search for ways to reduce discards within the CFP. However, banning discards is not a practicable proposition, if the CFP is to operate effectively. The Council of Ministers has considered a Commission report on the discard problem and asked the Commission to bring forward proposals for action on a Community-wide basis. To this end, the Commission is funding a two-year project, which began in October 1993, to examine more selective fishing gears and the technical operational, economic and social pressures surrounding their adoption, taking account of regional variations. Recommendations are to be made as to how the Community might adapt its policies more effectively to promote selective fishing and reduce discards.

§ Mr. David Porter
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the 443W changes to the common fisheries policy British fishermen will need to adopt (a) in the preparation for Norway's entry into the European Union and (b) once Norway has joined.

§ Mr. Jack
In my reply of 19 April to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell),Official Report, columns 440–41, I set out the provisions on fisheries management in the treaty of accession.
Few changes are made, by the accession treaty to the reciprocal rights of access for Norway and the EU to each others' waters and fisheries. The Commission has proposed a system of fishing permits to control the exploitation of Community resources when the CFP applies to an enlarged Community and the Council is likely to consider this at its June meeting. It is for the Commission to propose any further new or amending regulations which may be necessary.