§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will makea statement on the implications for the United Kingdom fishing industry of the increase in the by catch quota for Danish pout;
(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the document which allows an increase to 18 per cent. in the by catch quota for Danish pout trawlers;
(3) what scientific arguments were used by the Government against the increase in the by catch quota; and what he estimates will be the effect on white fish stocks of the increase;
(4) whether he is satisfied with the common fisheries policy conservation policy; and what will be the effect on it of the increase in the by catch quota.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe temporary derogation from the bycatch rules applying to the Norway pout fishery in the northern and central North sea until 31 May 1985, which was agreed by the Council of Ministers (Fisheries) on 10 September, is set out in Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2665/84 of 18 September 1984. It was published in theOfficial Journal of the European Communities, No. L253 on 21 September, which is available in the Library of the House.
The regulations on technical conservation measures under the Common Fisheries Policy represent a valuable framework for the long term conservation of stocks. The detailed rules are inevitably subject to review from time to time, taking account of changing patterns in the exploitation of fisheries, the state of fish stocks and developments in scientific understanding.
The Commission originally proposed in May that the permitted bycatch percentage in the Norway pout fishery should be increased to 20 per cent. for eight months each year on a permanent basis. We objected strongly to this on the grounds that the proposal was not based on any scientific recommendation and that there had been no scientific study of its implications for white fish stocks, in 637W the absence of internationally available data on the existing pattern of the Norway pout fishery and on the breakdown of the bycatches. In the course of the lengthy and difficult negotiations at the 10 September Council, where we were totally isolated on our opposition to the Commission's proposal, we succeeded in securing a number of major changes which have a significant effect on the original proposals.
The increase in bycatch limit, instead of being permanent, was agreed as a temporary derogation to last to 31 May 1985 only. The overall bycatch limit was increased from 10 per cent. to 18 per cent. and not 20 per cent. as originally proposed, while within this figure the limit for species other than whiting was reduced to 8 per cent. (as in the original proposal). We secured agreement on new arrangements for the effects of the bycatch limit to be monitored and the results reported to Brussels, which will be very helpful in assessing the true impact of the bycatch arrangements for the first time. The Commission also undertook to adopt a regulation by management committee procedure laying down sampling procedures for enforcing bycatch limits on the use of small mesh nets: work on this regulation which should of permanent value in improving enforcement both at sea and on landing is proceeding as a matter of urgency. As part of a package agreed by the Council, which will particularly affect Denmark, the TAC for North sea sprat was reduced, following scientific advice, and national quotas introduced for the first time, thus limiting the potential damage to juvenile herring. The TAC for Clyde herring (all of which goes to our own fishermen) was increased by 500 tonnes and the Commission undertook to study the possibility of increases on sole in the English Channel: we expect to see proposals on this shortly.
The overall package agreed on 10 September thus contained a number of advantages from the point of view of the United Kingdom fishing industry. The effect of the temporary change in the bycatch limit in the Norway pout fishery is likely to be some increase in the total bycatch, particularly of whiting, towards the end of this year and early next. This is, however, unlikely to be such as to have any significant impact of future stock levels: recruitment to the whiting stock next year is expected to be above average, a point which was frequently emphasised in the negotiations by those favouring the original proposal. United Kingdom fishermen, who are currently not taking up our full whiting quota, are unlikely to suffer any reduction in their effective fishing opportunities as a result of the Council's decision.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the monitoring of common fisheries policy quotas.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe Commission has shown determination to improve the enforcement of quotas this year and has already closed some 20 fisheries to the vessels of other member states.
We consider that there is still room for further improvement, however, and the introduction of Community logbooks for fishing vessels early in 1985 will provide an additional mechanism to improve quota enforcement.
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§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at what intervals fishermen's logbooks are due to be available for inspection; and what is the average delay before such inspection is possible.
§ Mr. MacGregorUnder the procedures to be introduced early next year, fishermen will have to complete a logbook at least once a day at sea and also at the time of any inspection at sea. On return to port completed logbooks and landings declarations should be handed over or despatched within 48 hours of completion of landing and the copies retained for one year. Thus they will be required to be available for inspection at any time by member states' enforcement authorities.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the part played by the European Community inspectorate in ensuring compliance with community fishing rules.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe Community inspectorate, which was set up at the insistence of this Government, has reinforced the monitoring work of the Commission by making enquiries in member states, including the investigation of alleged false catch reporting in the Dutch mackerel and sole fisheries. We expect such investigations to continue to produce marked improvements in the enforcement of quota observance.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement as to why fishing was prohibited to the fishing fleet within the six miles of the coast line around Start Point, Prawl Point and Bolt Tail, between latitude 50 21'N on the east side and longitude 4 W on the west side; and why these conditions were not mentioned at the management committee meeting held in London which preceded the opening of the south west fishery.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe prohibition, which relates only to vessels of 10 metres registered length and over, was introduced to protect the local fixed fishing grounds. This was clearly stated at the consultative meeting with the industry on 3 October by the sea fisheries inspectorate. This measure was an integral part of the general management arrangements for the fishery which are aimed at balancing the interests of all concerned.