§ 54. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he has considered the protest made by the Trawler Officers' Guild against the recent action of the commander of the British destroyer, H.M.S. "Crossbow", in advising British fishing trawlers to keep outside Iceland's disputed 12-mile fishing limit; and if he will make a statement about the incident.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingI assume that the hon. and learned Member is referring to a complaint made by the Grimsby Trawler Officers' Guild to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food stated on 28th April, Her Majesty's Government 39W are not in a position to give orders to the trawler industry. However, the trawler owners have themselves instructed skippers not to fish for the time being inside the 12-mile fishery limit claimed by Iceland.
On 10th June a number of trawler skippers appeared to H.M.S. "Crossbow" to be unaware of their owners' instructions. Her Majesty's ships have orders to remind British trawlers of these instructions if, because of navigational difficulties or for any other reason, they are seen to he fishing inside the 12-mile limit and so running the risk of becoming involved in incidents. I am sure that the hon. and learned Member will agree that it is in the interests of all concerned to avoid such incidents at the present time.