§ 40. Mr. Charles Wardleasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on beam trawling in the EEC.
§ Mr. GummerThe package of technical measures which was agreed at the meeting of the Council of Ministers on 23 September included significant new provisions to control beam trawling in the Community. The measures of particular interest to the United Kingdom fishermen are, of course, those which will apply within 12 miles of our coast and I am pleased to say that we have succeeded in improving upon the exising rules.
With effect from 1 January 1987 it will not be permitted to derate the engines of new beam trawlers nor newly installed engines in existing beam trawlers to meet the power restriction of 221 kw (300bhp). Permitted derating of engines in existing vessels will be limited to those of which the maximum power is not more than 300 kw (407bhp). Furthermore, no new beam trawler exceeding 24m length overall will be permitted to operate within 12 miles. In addition, the maximum aggregate length of the fishing beam permitted within 12 miles will be 8m.
These provisions, which are set out in Council regulation (EEC) 3094/86, will apply to all vessels including those of other member states with rights to fish in some parts of our 12-mile zone.