§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the United Kingdom fishing industry about the implications for it of the future development of the Falklands fishery.
§ Mr. GummerFisheries at the Falklands are principally a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. I have, however, received representations from a small number of companies in the United Kingdom fishing industry on the desirability of securing greater regulation of the level of fishing in the waters around the Falkland Islands with a view to protecting the barter deals involving squid caught by east European vessels and delivered to Japan, to which I referred in my answer to the hon. Member for Kingston Upon Hull, West (Mr. Randall) on 10 December 1985, at column 587, as well as to improving the potential viability of a limited United Kingdom participation in the fisheries.
The Government are actively seeking international regulation of the south-west Atlantic fishery and a study to this end is under way in the Food and Agriculture Organisation, as my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs explained in a written answer to the hon. Member for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Mr. Foulkes) on 20 January, at column 34.