HC Deb 22 May 1981 vol 5 cc187-8W
Mr. Maclennan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what option for the management of the West of Scotland and North Sea herring fisheries in the event of the limited reopening of these fisheries this year have been proposed to him by representatives of the fishing industry; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Younger

A number of proposals for the management of these fisheries, including the limitation of fishing effort and the operation of quotas, have been made by various sectors of the fishing industry. These and other options were discussed recently at a meeting between officials of the fisheries Departments and representatives of the industry. Since, however, there is as yet no agreed scientific recommendation to reopen the fisheries and the extent of any possible fishery this year is therefore not known, these discussions were necessarily of a broad and preliminary nature.