§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has studied the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea recommendations for herring fisheries in the north North Sea, the Shetlands, the south North Sea and the west coast fisheries; and if, in view of the concern which has been expressed by the leaders of the Scottish fishing industry regarding these recommendations, he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe scientific advice of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea is that the herring fisheries in the northern and central areas of the North Sea should remain closed during 1982. While this recommendation has still to be considered in detail, the Government's general policy continues to be that the fisheries should not be re-opened until the scientific advice is that this can be done without further endangering the stocks. The management arrangements for the herring fisheries in the area of the southern North Sea and the west of Scotland will be the subject of consultations with the industry.