HC Deb 21 February 1963 vol 672 cc97-8W
Mr. Wolrige-Gordon

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make any forecast about the possible success or failure of herring fishing off the Buchan, Aberdeenshire, coast next summer.

Mr. Noble

The annual forecast will be published in April. I am advised, however, that the Buchan fishery this coming summer should be up to the aver- age of the last ten years and better than the very poor fishing of 1962.

Mr. Wolrige-Gordon

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland where the main spawning grounds are for the herring which can be expected to come to the fishing grounds off the coast of Aberdeenshire in the summer; and what proportion of these grounds lies within a 12 mile fishing limit.

Mr. Noble

The spawning grounds in question range over a wide area from the Shetlands through the North Sea to the Channel. The major grounds are off Clyth Ness and on the Turbot, Aberdeen and Dogger Banks. Only the Clyth Ness grounds would be within a 12 mile limit.