§ Sir R. Gowerasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the warnings issued at the meeting at Bournemouth of the Southern Sea Fisheries District Committee against trawling by amateurs from yachts; and how far in normal times inshore fishermen are thereby prejudiced in their activities?
Mr. HudsonI have seen a report of the meeting of the Southern Sea Fisheries Committee to which my hon. Friend refers, and I understand that the Committee believe that in normal times damage is done to their local fisheries as a result of trawling by amateurs over inshore nursery grounds. The problem is, however, so far as I am aware, a local one which could be best dealt with by the Committee themselves by means of an appropriate by-law such as they have power to make with my approval.