§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will ban the landing of crab claws torn from live crabs which are then thrown back into the sea; what weight of such crab claws have been imported into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BishopUnder current legislation we have no powers to prevent crabs' claws from being taken and landed. Hitherto the landing of crabs' claws does not appear to have been widespread, and precise statistics for the United Kingdom are not available. But I understand that approximately 10 tons were landed at Grimsby in October and November 1975 and there were two landings totalling 8 cwt in June 1976. Scientific advisers of my Department have been asked to investigate the possible effect upon crab stocks around the United Kingdom.