HC Deb 02 July 1964 vol 697 cc285-7W
Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent Anglo-Norwegian fishery talks.

Mr. R. A. Butler

Officials of the United Kingdom and Norway met in London from 17th to 23rd June to discuss the arrangements to be made, in accordance with the Note supplementary to the Anglo-Norwegian Fishery Agreement of 17th November, 1960, when the new United Kingdom fishery limits are introduced. In that Note Her Majesty's Government undertook to make for Norwegian vessels off the United Kingdom arrangements corresponding to those made under the Agreement for British vessels off Norway.

Subject to the conclusion of a formal Agreement between their Governments in this matter, officials recommended that until 31st December, 1984, Norwegian vessels which would otherwise be excluded from the new fishery limits might continue to fish in the zone between six and twelve miles from the baselines of the territorial sea of the United Kingdom,

  1. (a) for dogfish, in the area extending from a line due west of And an Runair (North Uist) northwards to a line due east of Start Point (Orkney) including the areas around the Flannan Islands, the Shetland Islands and Fair Isle and the off-lying islands of the St. Kilda Group, North Rona and Sulisker, Sule Skerry and Stack Skerry; and
  2. (b) for basking sharks, in the same area as for dogfish and also in the area between a line due west of the Mul of Oa (Islay) and a line due west of Ard an Runair.

Norwegian vessels might also continue to fish for dogfish and basking sharks in these areas up to a limit of three miles from United Kingdom baselines until 31st December, 1965, or, where straight baselines or bay closing lines more than ten miles long are drawn, until 31st December, 1966.

If any fundamental change were to take place in the character of Norwegian fishing in these areas, Her Majesty's Government would review the position with the Norwegian Government. Any right to fish for dogfish or basking sharks in these areas extended to a third country would also be extended to Norway. The Government of the United Kingdom would enforce for Norwegian vessels fishing in these areas rules of conduct which for the time being would be those of the North Sea Fisheries Convention, 1882; the Government of the United Kingdom would not require Norwegian vessels to observe any conservation measures which might have the effect of abridging their right to fish for dogfish or basking sharks, unless such measures were accepted by the Government of Norway.