HL Deb 19 October 1998 vol 593 c131WA
The Earl of Shrewsbury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they intend to take to protect the sand eel population around the coasts of the United Kingdom. [HL3345]

Lord Donoughue

The Government set annual restrictions on sand eel fishing in the inshore fisheries around the Shetland Islands and Western Isles. In addition, they have proposed to the European Commission the introduction of a seasonal ban on sand eel fishing off the North Sea coast from the Orkneys to Humberside. This would be an international closure introduced through European Community rules.