§ Mr. Hicksasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will institute an immediate official inquiry into the problems relating to the catching and disposing of mackerel off the coasts of Cornwall and Devon, in the interests of orderly marketing and long-term conservation of mackerel stocks;
(2) if he will make a statement relating to the current problems facing the inshore fishing industry of Cornwall and Devon, particularly in respect of the catching and marketing of mackerel; and if he will outline the action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. BishopOfficials from the Fisheries Departments held a further meeting last week with representatives of the fisheries producers' organisations concerned to examine the scope for cooperation between the mackerel catching and marketing interests in the fishery off the coasts of Cornwall and Devon with a view to stabilising catches and prices and seeking new market outlets. The producers' organisations will be considering together how these aims can be achieved, and the Government are pursuing a number of suggestions made by 491W the organisations for measures which would be of assistance.
§ Mr. Hicksasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will ban the use of purse seine netting for the catching of mackerel off the coasts of Cornwall and Devon, pending the results of an official inquiry into the current problems facing the fishing industry in this area;
(2) if he will introduce a temporary restriction on all fishing vessels in excess of 50 feet in length engaged in fishing for mackerel off the coasts of Cornwall and Devon, pending the results of an official inquiry into the current problems facing the fishing industry in this area;
(3) if he is satisfied with existing conditions prevailing in the inshore fishing industry of Cornwall and Devon, particularly with regard to the number and size of fishing vessels currently engaged in the fishing of mackerel, the methods being used, the ultimate use and marketing of mackerel and the conservation of future stocks of mackerel.
§ Mr. BishopMy right hon. Friend and I have no plans at present to restrict the access of either numbers or classes of vessels, or to outlaw particular types of fishing gear in the mackerel fishery off the coasts of Cornwall and Devon. The Government's powers to act in this way are limited to cases where there is a conservation need, and the available scientific advice suggests that the stocks in question are capable of withstanding the present level of fishing effort. The Mackerel Working Group of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea is due to meet next month to assess the state of the western mackerel stocks and will be making recommendations to the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission on conservation catch quotas.