§ Mr. Croslandasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that industrial fishing by foreign trawlers is increasingly threatening the livelihood of British inshore fishermen; and what action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. HareThe effect of industrial fishing on the fish stocks is kept under70W continuing study by the Permanent Commission of the International Fisheries Convention. These studies have not shown any serious decline in catches of mature fish attributable to industrial fishing, and there is no evidence that our inshore fishing industry has so far been affected by this activity.
The Government are, however, keenly alive to the possible dangers from indiscriminate industrial fishing: and will work for the introduction of such international conservation measures as are shown to be necessary.