§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which offshore vessels are at present used within the Fisheries Protection Squadron (Sea Fisheries Inspectorate) and Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency, what is the expected lifespan of such vessels and the contingency plans to replace them; and whether it is expected that the number of vessels will increase or decrease:
- (a) up to the end of the year 2002;
- (b) after the year 2002.
§ Lord DonoughueResponsibility for fisheries surveillance in British fisheries limits is shared between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) and the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) on behalf of the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department.
In the waters adjacent to England and Wales, fisheries surveillance is undertaken on behalf of MAFF by the Royal Navy's Fishery Protection Squadron. The squadron comprises a core of eight purpose-built vessels and is supplemented by the short term deployment of Hunt Class Mine Countermeasure Vessels. The core vessels are:
Name Date of Commissioning Current expected lifespan HMS "Guernsey: 1997 30 years HMS "Shetland: 1977 30 years HMS "Orkney" 1977 30 years HMS "Lindisfarne" 1978 30 years HMS "Alderney 1979 30 years HMS "Anglesey" 1979 30 years HMS "Leeds Castle" 1981 30 years HMS "Dumbarton Castle" 1982 30 years Each year the Navy undertakes to provide MAFF with an agreed number of patrol days using the above vessels and mine hunters.
In the waters adjacent to Scotland, the SFPA operates four offshore vessels. These are:
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Name Date of Commissioning Current expected lifespan "Westra" 1975 until 2005 "Sulisker" 1980 until 2010 "Vigilant" 1982 until 2012 "Norna" 1987 until 2017 Additionally the SFPA operates two inshore vessels which were commissioned in 1983 with an expected lifespan of some 15 years.
The Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland also operates an inshore patrol vessel, the "Ken Vickers", which was commissioned in 1992 with an expected lifespan of 10 years.
Future requirements for fisheries surveillance in British fishery limits are reviewed from year to year. No decisions have yet been taken with regard to the replacement of the vessels named above or to the number of vessels that will be required for fisheries surveillance up to the year 2002 and beyond.