§ Mr. Sproatasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will draw to the attention of the EEC authorities on Monday 16th January 1978 when he meets them to discuss the issue of fish quotas within renegotiations of the common fisheries policy the fact that the United Kingdom provides some 60 per cent. of all fishery resources within the EEC.
§ Mr. BishopMy right hon. Friend has repeatedly done this.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will draw to the attention of the EEC authorities on Monday 16th January 1978 when he meets them to discuss renegotiation of the common fisheries policy the fact that the British fishing industry needs an annual future catch of some 2 million tons if it is to remain viable.
§ Mr. BishopMy right hon. Friend has consistently pressed for quota allocations under the revised common fisheries policy508W which will provide a level of catch adequate for the needs of the United Kingdom fishing industry and which will enable it to plan with confidence for the future.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will draw to the attention of the EEC authorities on Monday 16th January 1978 when he meets them to discuss renegotiation of the common fisheries policy the fact that many British fishermen spent Christmas on the dole because of EEC quota mismanagement.
§ Mr. BishopMy right hon. Friend has made clear in Community discussion the importance of effective and adequate quota management and enforcement arrangements.
§ Mr. Sproatasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about what increase in what fish species has caused the latest EEC estimate of total catch for 1978 in the waters of EEC countries to rise from 2,506,651 tonnes to 2,822,654 tonnes; why the proposals for United Kingdom quotas have been cut; what effects he envisages this will have on the United Kingdom fishing industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BishopI would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's statement on 19th January 1978.—[Vol. 942, c. 676–86.] The latest Commission proposals for total EEC catch in 1978 waters of member States amount to about 3½1 million tonnes. This differs from previous proposals because certain other species have been brought within the scope of the quota proposals, together with areas such as Greenland, the Skagerrak, Kattegat and Baltic. The share proposed for the United Kingdom has been increased.