HC Deb 17 March 1975 vol 888 cc328-9W
Sir John Gilmour

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish a map showing the fishing limits round the coast of Scotland if a 200 mile limit is agreed at the Law of the Sea Conference.

Mr. William Ross:

No. I do not consider that there is a need for such a map, but I will bear in mind the hon. Member's suggestion once the outcome of the Law of the Sea Conference is known.

Mr. Gray

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the total area of sea around Scotland which would fall within the proposed 200-mile fishing limit; and what proportion this is of the total area of sea around all the countries of the EEC which would fall within the proposed 200-mile fishing limit.

Mr. William Ross:

It has been estimated that the area of sea around the United Kingdom that would fall within a 200-mile limit, including, where applicable, median lines, would be 168,000 square nautical miles. I regret that the other information is not available in the form requested. The figures given below relate to those areas of sea within 200 miles, or less where median lines are applicable, of EEC countries in the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission area —viz., excluding the Mediterranean waters of EEC countries.

Country Proportion of Total Area Per cent.
United Kingdom 56
Belgium 1
Denmark 5
France 5
Germany 2
Ireland 27
Netherlands 4

Mr. Gray

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what quantities, by weight and value, of the main species of fish were caught by non-EEC countries in the area around Scotland which would fall within the proposed 200-mile fishing limit in each of the past five years;

(2) what estimate he has made of the amounts, by weight and value, of the different species of fish which were caught within the proposed 200-mile limit around Scotland by each of the other countries of the EEC in each of the past five years.

Mr. William Ross:

This information is not readily available in the form requested, but I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food which gives information relating to the United Kingdom as a whole.