§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the contribution that closed areas could make in the future development of fisheries management. [50541]
§ Mr. MorleyClosures in certain areas can benefit fish stocks if they are sufficiently large and well targeted, if they can be effectively enforced and if they are not undermined by an increase in fishing effort in other areas. The possibility of introducing new closed areas is under current consideration by fishing interests and fisheries scientists in this country and internationally.