§ Dr. Godmanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has made plans to restrict the number of fishing vessels operating in Falkland Islands waters in order to control the depletion and renewal of fish stocks in the areas in question.
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§ Mr. RentonWe are aware of the concern about the depletion of fishing stocks in the area. We are actively considering the possibility of establishing an exclusive fisheries limit around the Falkland Islands, in which conservation would be an important element. But as the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs recognise in its report, this raises a number of complex issues. No decisions have yet been taken.
§ Dr. Godmanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the Official Report the tonnage, value and species of fish harvested in the Falkland Islands waters in 1983.
§ Mr. RentonThe specific information requested is not available. Fisheries statistics covering the entire south Atlantic area will not be available for some time.