§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what historical entitlements are held by UK-registered vessels to fish within the six mile zone of other EU member states. [140842]
§ Mr. BradshawUK-registered vessels do not hold any historical entitlements to fish within the six mile zone of any EU member state.
§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Government enforcement authorities in monitoring fishing activity in the six to 12 mile zone. [140843]
§ Mr. BradshawThe monitoring of fishing activity in British Fishery Limits adjacent to England and Wales, including the six 12 mile zone, is the responsibility of the Department's Sea Fisheries Inspectorate using aerial and satellite surveillance and fishery protection vessels on task from the Royal Navy.
The level of surveillance is kept under review by the Sea Fisheries Inspectorate and is considered to be proportionate to the fishing activity occurring within British Fishery Limits.
§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in(a) setting up, (b) agreeing the membership of, (c) setting the agenda for, (d) agreeing plans to improve fisheries conservation by (e) setting up and funding the necessary budget for and (f) developing proposals for the development of a sustainable fishing industry for advisory councils for each of the regions relevant to the UK fishing industry as part of the revised Common Fisheries' Policy. [140848]
§ Mr. BradshawRegional Advisory Councils (RACs) will increase the involvement of those affected by the Common Fisheries Policy in fisheries management decisions. They will bring together fishermen, scientists and all with an interest in the fish stocks and their exploitation. They will help develop ways forward to which all parties can subscribe.
The European Commission has announced its proposal for a Council Decision Establishing Regional Advisory Councils (13702/03). The European Parliament is considering the proposal, and formal consultations are being held by Defra and the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department. We are working with interested parties, the Commission and the other member states to develop the proposal. The draft Decision is intended to fix basic principles including those relating to membership, working arrangements and criteria for establishment. Individual RACs will determine how they manage themselves: thus they will be bottom-up organisations, developed and run by their members.
It will take time for effective RACs to develop, but fishermen and other interests active in international fisheries partnerships in the North sea, the Irish sea and the south west, the Baltic and the Mediterranean have already made good progress. Unless the Commission's 224W proposal meets with unexpected problems, we can expect a Council Decision establishing the first Regional Advisory Councils in 2004.
§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the UN's Law of the Sea on(a) the UK fishing industry and (b) the activities of non-UK-registered fishing vessels operating within UK territorial waters. [140849]
§ Mr. BradshawNo assessment has been made of the impact of the UN's Law of the Sea on the UK fishing industry. The activities of non-UK registered vessels operating within UK territorial waters are governed by access rules established under the Common Fisheries Policy. As regards third country vessels, access is determined under the terms of bilateral fisheries agreements with certain third countries which have limited access to certain stocks in EU waters.
§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what legal and other advice her Department has sought in response to representations she has received from the fishing industry seeking to(a) achieve the unilateral withdrawal of the UK from the Common Fisheries Policy, (b) genuinely lessen the UK's accountability to the CFP and (c) restrict access of foreign vessels from UK territorial waters. [141538]
§ Mr. Bradshaw[holding answer 2 December 2003]The Department routinely bases its assessments of representations, and responses to them, on advice from its policy experts and, where necessary, on legal advice.