§ Mr. Sproatasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the value and amount of mackerel caught by EEC vessels, other than British, in United Kingdom waters since the United Kingdom ban.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThere is no general United Kingdom ban on fishing for mackerel, although an area off southwest England of some 4,000 square nautical miles was closed on 17 March until 15 November to fishing for mackerel by any vessel with purse seines or trawls of less than 70mm; fishing for mackerel in ICES areas VI, VII and VIII by United Kingdom vessels of over 60ft registered 61W length has been suspended since 16 February. There is insufficient information available to enable me to provide the estimates requested in respect of either the period since 17 March or the period since 16 February.