§ Mr. Nealeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the licensing arrangements will be for the forthcoming south-western mackerel fishery.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe south-western fishery should shortly begin to build up following the seasonal dispersal of the mackerel shoals off the west of 157W Scotland. We do not propose at this stage to change the weekly quotas under the mackerel licensing scheme, but we will keep the level of these quotas under review in the light of the development of the total United Kingdom catch.
The licensing arrangements for 1981 will be announced later.
Vessels fishing for mackerel off the south-west will continue until 15 November to be prohibited from purse seining and trawling with nets with mesh of less than 70mm—single twine—and 75mmdouble twine—within the area around Cornwall covered by the South-Western Mackerel (Prohibition of Fishing Methods) Order 1980.
We are amending the mackerel licence with effect from 16 November in order to try to facilitate the enforcement of the licence condition which requires vessels claiming a quota to have fished for mackerel. In addition, to help protect the depleted North Sea mackerel stock, licensed fishing for mackerel in area VI north of 56°N is being suspended with effect from 16 November.