§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr. Quinn) of 12 March 1999,Official Report, columns 428–29, on 892W shellfish, what further representations he has received from shellfish interests about measures to protect lobsters and crawfish. [78300]
§ Mr. MorleySome shellfishermen have urged very strongly that stocks need protection through a national UK ban on the landing of V-notched lobsters being introduced at as early a date as possible. I have, therefore, decided that legislation to extend the ban to the whole of the UK should be brought forward as soon as practicable. It already exists in Northern Ireland. The opportunity will also be taken to regulate the landing of V-notched crawfish.
The other measures referred to in my answer to the hon. Member for Scarborough and Whitby are linked to changes in EU rules which will be coming into effect on 1 January 2000 and as already announced it is preferable for them to take place at the same time.