HC Deb 02 March 1999 vol 326 c725W
Mr. Gill

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many fishing vessels were boarded by fisheries inspectors in the last year for which records are available; how many such actions resulted in legal proceedings for breach of regulations; and what was the nationality of the vessels concerned. [73282]

Mr. Morley

During 1998, the UK enforcement authorities boarded 4,189 fishing vessels at sea. Those boardings resulted in the masters and/or owners of 19 vessels being successfully prosecuted for breaches of fisheries regulations. The nationality of the vessels concerned were 8 UK, 5 Belgian, 5 French and 1 Irish. There are some cases which are still being processed and the numbers of prosecutions may therefore rise.