§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many vessels are employed in monitoring the sand-eel fishery around Shetland and in the west of Scotland waters. [29344]
§ Mr. LangThe Scottish Office marine laboratory would normally deploy one of its research vessels to help with any necessary stock assessment. In addition, the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency deploys a number of vessels on surveillance and enforcement duties. These include four offshore fishery patrol vessels augmented by a similar Royal Navy vessel and two inshore launches. Their tasking covers the sand-eel fisheries but is not exclusively so.
§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to monitor the age, composition and size of fish in each catch of sand-eels around Shetland. [29343]
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 19 June 1995]: The Scottish Office marine laboratory in Aberdeen is analysing daily samples from the Shetland fishery on the basis of age and length composition.