§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends to take to prevent French fishermen from fishing for herring on the North-West Coast of Scotland which they then land at their home ports; if he will take steps to have these vessels arrested and their stocks and gear impounded and if he will take steps to place a permanent ban on any vessel caught in illegal fishing of a restricted species in British waters.
§ Mr. YoungerBritish fishery limits around Scotland are regularly patrolled by my Department's fishery protection vessels and the Royal Navy's fishery protection squadron, with the assistance of surveillance by Nimrods of the Royal Air Force, in order to enforce compliance with fisheries legislation by vessels of all nationalities. This has produced no evidence of breach of United Kingdom regulations by French vessels off the North-West Coast of Scotland.
Recent reported landing of herring at Boulogne have been brought to the attention of the French authorities and I understand that proceedings have been taken against two French boats.
The penalties imposed for breach of United Kingdom fisheries legislation are for the courts to determine. While these may include forfeiture of catch and gear, they do not include power to impose on a vessel a general ban on fishing within British fishery limits.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what the result of his investigations into the allegations made by the secretary of the Mallaig and North-West fishermen's association has been that trawlers from Grimsby and Fleetwood are catching large quantities of herring, contrary to the present restrictions, which are being frozen, then hidden from view and sold either to factory ships offshore or at Continental ports.
§ Mr. YoungerThroughout the Minch mackerel season, the fishery protection service has carried out regular inspections of landings, transhipments and catches including stowed frozen fish. These in-640W spections have, however, shown no evidence of deliberate breach of the prohibition on fishing for herring.
Investigations concerning the landing of herring in Denmark by a Grimsby registered vessel are being carried out by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. A decision on any action to be taken in this case must await the completion of these investigations. My right hon. Friend's Department has also investigated but has found no evidence to support a further allegation that has been made that the skipper of a Hull registered vessel had been given permission to retain a catch of herring.