§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the results of the recent consultation on bass trawling regulations in respect of(a) the number, (b) the percentage of respondents (i) agreeing and (ii) disagreeing with the proposed regulations (c) the number and (d) the percentage of respondents in favour of (i) partial and (ii) complete closure of the offshore fishery for bass. [115774]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 27 March 2000]: There were a total of 174 responses to the consultation carried out last autumn about possible restrictions on landing bass from UK commercial vessels. Only 13 respondents (7.5 per cent.) were opposed to the proposals made. A total of 53 respondents (30.5 per cent.) wished to go further than the proposals and called for a complete closure of the fishery. The number of responses calling for a partial closure was not recorded.