Baroness Vickersasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consideration they have given to extending territorial waters for fishing and other purposes to a range of 200 miles around the Falkland Islands and the Falkland Island Dependencies (provided that such an area to the west of the Falkland Islands would go no further than the median line between the islands and Argentina); and
Whether they are aware of the need for conserving fish stocks in the waters around the Falkland Islands and the Falkland Island Dependencies that would be covered by a 200-mile fishing zone; and what steps they propose taking to achieve such conservation; and
What extra costs they estimate would be incurred in policing the area of 200-miles around the Falkland Islands and the Falkland Island Dependencies if territorial waters were to be extended to that area (so long as to the west of the islands the limit of the territorial waters was the 91WA median line with Argentina), bearing in mind that naval vessels are already in the area anyway; and
What estimates they have made of licence fees which could be charged to vessels fishing in the area200 miles around the Falkland Islands and the Falkland Islands Dependencies.
§ Baroness YoungThe possibility of introducing a 200-mile fisheries zone in the area in question is currently under consideration. One of the objectives of such a zone would be the conservation of fish stocks. Licensing and policing are also among the factors which must be taken into account.