HC Deb 13 February 1979 vol 962 cc467-8W
49. Mr. James Johnson

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the number of foreign vessels boarded by the Fisheries Protection Squadron in the year 1978; and how many convictions were made of illegal fishing in British territorial waters.

Mr. Bishop

In 1978 United Kingdom fishery protection vessels carried out 1,383 boardings of foreign vessels within United Kingdom fishery limits. Twenty-two skippers of foreign fishing vessels were convicted of offences against fishery regulations applying within United Kingdom fishing limits but none of the offences involved illegal fishing within United Kingdom territorial waters.