§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will close the UK inshore bass fishery to commercial exploitation on conservation grounds; and if she will make a statement. [165930]
§ Mr. BradshawClosure of the UK inshore bass fishery to commercial exploitation would have limited conservation benefits as the bass allowed to survive would simply become part of the winter offshore fishery. The International Council of Exploration of the Sea's assessment of bass stocks in EU waters in 2003 did not support such a closure, but recommended that fishing mortality should not be allowed to increase given the uncertainties in the assessment and the possible influence of climate change on the stock. This work also showed that landings in most inshore fisheries had remained buoyant.
Scientists from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science are closely monitoring the bass fishery on our behalf and I do not rule out further measures to protect, bass, but any additional action would need to be supported by scientific evidence.
1003W
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Scottish vessels are pair trawling the sea bass spawning shoals off the south and west coasts of England. [165931]
§ Mr. BradshawThere are 14 Scottish registered vessels currently involved in pair trawling operations off the south and west coasts of England.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many vessels made landings of spawning sea bass at Plymouth on 26 March; and what their registered ports were. [165932]
§ Mr. BradshawDepartmental records do not separately record landings of spawning sea bass. On 26 March 15 vessels made landings of sea bass into Plymouth. Those vessels were registered at the following ports: Carlisle (one), Exeter (two), Fowey (one), Fraserburgh (two), Kircaldy (one), Lowestoft (one), Peterhead (four), Plymouth (two) and St Ives (one).