HL Deb 30 October 2003 vol 654 cc63-4WA
Lord Mason of Barnsley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the latest postition on the phasing out of the North Sea drift net fishery; and what are the numbers of trawlers and fishermen. [HL5062]

Lord Whitty

Between 1992, when the phase-out of the north-east coast salmon driftnet fishery began, and early 2003, the number of licensed drift-netsmen in the fishery was reduced from 149 to 68.

In May of this year, agreements were reached between 52 of the remaining netsmen, Defra and representatives of angling and riparian interests, under which the netsmen undertook to leave the fishery for good in return for compensation payments. The size of the compensation payment for each netsman was determined as the result of a bidding process. There are now only 16 licensed drift-netsmen left in the fishery. The phase-out will continue, since the fishery remains subject to a reducing net limitation order, such that licences are not renewed or re-allocated when fishermen leave the fishery.