§ 36. Mr. Wallasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make a statement on beam trawling.
§ Mr. BuchanI have now held discussions with representatives of all those engaged in, or affected by, beam trawling. I have concluded that the danger of over-exploitation of sole and plaice stocks round our coasts arises primarily from the lack of an overall limit on fishing for these stocks. This has wider implications than the use of any particular gear or fishing by United Kingdom boats alone. The Government will, therefore, press for satisfactory international quotas at the meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission next month. I shall decide in the light of the results of that meeting whether further restrictions are necessary on beam trawling.