§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what 873W proposals he has for stopping vessels from other EEC countries fishing mackerel in the South-West now that British vessels have stopped; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BishopThe suspension of fishing for mackerel by United Kingdom vessels in ICES areas VI and VII until 2 June is a national management measure designed to ensure that over 1979 as a whole the United Kingdom takes a reasonable share of the total allowable catch. Vessels from all foreign countries are already prohibited from fishing for mackerel within 12 miles of United Kingdom baselines. My right hon. Friend would not be justified in taking action to stop foreign fishing for mackerel altogether within our fishery limits merely because, for the purposes of regulating our own catch, fishing by United Kingdom vessels has been temporarily suspended.
It remains the Government's objective that the United Kingdom fleet should catch a reasonable share of the TAC for this stock; and, in the CFP negotiations, we are seeking arrangements which provide for foreign fishing of this stock also to bear a reasonable relationship to the TAC.