HC Deb 04 February 1980 vol 978 c58W
Mr. Spriggs

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the fishing vessels lost at sea and the number of fishermen who lost their lives each year since 1950, respectively, up to the latest date for which the above information is available; and what steps have been taken to end such loss of life and property.

Mr. Tebbit

The numbers of fishing vessels lost in the years 1950–1978 are listed below together with deaths arising from those losses for the period 1962–1978. Figures for deaths arising from those fishing vessels which were lost during the years 1950–1961 are not available.

My Department is actively engaged in implementing the Fishing Vessel (Safety Provisions) Rules in order to raise safety standards in the industry, in consultation with the Fishing Industry Safety Group.

Following is the information:

LOSSES OF FISHING VESSELS REGISTERED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND DEATHS OF FISHERMEN: 1950–78
Total number of fishing vessels lost Deaths due to losses
1950 26 *
1951 24 *
1952 23 *
1953 25 *
1954 22 *
1955 27 *
1956 16 *
1957 23 *
1958 26 *
1959 27 *
1960 11 *
1961 24 *
1962 13 25
1963 22 4
1964 17 5
1965 10 26
1966 15 15
1967 21 4
1968 26 70
1969 25 9
1970 16 11
1971 15 Nil
1972 24 18
1973 31 5
1974 28 51
1975 47 4
1976 35 2
1977 37 14
1978 39 25
* Not available.