§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is now able to announce the results of his Department's investigation into the letters received by the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) from chief fishery officers regarding the harmful effects of beam trawling.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartMy Department's scientists are contributing to further international investigations into the effects of beam trawling under the auspices of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). They will take into account the evidence of chief fisheries officers which my hon. Friend sent me.
§ Mr. Bowdenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the belief by inshore fishermen 101W that relatively poor catches in some areas this season are due to the effects of beam trawling, he will consider a ban on beam trawling within the six-mile limit until the results of the present research into beam trawling are known.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartNo. The larger beam trawls are already banned, and there is little trawling for demersal fish by this method within the six-mile limit. Inshore catches have always been subject to wide variation, but there is no sign that this season is showing a new pattern.