§ 61. Mr. Wallasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what complaints he has received about the in adequacy of protection afforded to vessels fishing within coastal waters; and what steps he intends to take to increase the protection afforded by the Fishery Protection Squadron.
§ Mr. HoyComplaints have been received from local fishermen's associations and from an hon. Member.
Subject to overriding operational requirements of the Royal Navy, there is a continuous patrol by at least one protection vessel during the herring season. The arrangements are kept under review to see if they can be improved, but it would not be justifiable to increase still further the protection given to this fishery by a diversion of effort from other sectors of the coast.