§ 19. Mr. Beithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement about recent discussions in the Council of Ministers relating to the herring fishery, the sprat fishery, net sizes for white fish, and the minimum size for lobsters.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe decisions taken at the Fisheries Council on 4 October included an increase in the minimum mesh size for white fish in the North Sea to 90mm with effect from January 1, 1985, and the introduction of new Community provisions on the minimum size for lobsters. Total allowable catches, quotas and related provisions for herring and sprat fisheries for 1983 are still under consideration in the Council.
§ 20. Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made at meetings of the Fisheries Council on the determination of total allowable catches and quotas for the year.
§ Mr. MacGregorProgress on the determination of total allowable catches and quotas for 1983 has been held up pending the settlement of current negotiations on North Sea herring. In general, fishing continues to be governed by the rolled-over TACs and quotas for 1982. However, as my right hon. Friend indicated in the reply he gave on 15 November to my hon. Friend the member for Scarborough (Sir M. Shaw), the council has agreed arrangements which will be of considerable benefit to United Kingdom fishermen, under which part of the rolled-over quota for herring may be taken in the northern and central North Sea instead of the southern North Sea. The Council will be meeting again on December 14.