§ Mr. Harrisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Fisheries Ministers' meeting in Brussels on 16 and 17 December; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Jopling[pursuant to the reply, 19 December 1985, c. 282]: The Council of Fisheries Ministers resumed 488W discussion on 20 December to consider the further decisions necessary on total allowable catches and quotas for 1986 as a consequence of the accession of Spain and Portugal. I represented the United Kingdom.
After lengthy discussions involving Spain, Portugal and France, mainly on the arrangements to apply in the waters of Spain and Portugal, the Council was able to reach agreement on the allocations to Spain and Portugal of stocks already subject to TAC, the introduction of TACs and quotas for the enlarged Community for pollack and Norway lobster in Western waters as well as for a number of other species in Spanish and Portuguese waters, and certain additional controls on vessels of other member states fishing in Spanish and Portuguese waters as well as on Portuguese vessels fishing for limited quantities of horse mackerel and blue whiting in the waters of the existing Member States. The quotas allocated to the United Kingdom for pollack and Norway lobster in ICES areas Vb, VI and VII for 1986 were very satisfactory and reflected existing patterns of fishing. I am glad to report that Ireland lifted its waiting reserve on the package of TACs and quotas agreed at the previous meeting on 16 and 17 December which will now enter into force on an interim basis to 25 January only, pending the debate in the House on 16 January.
The Council accordingly completed the work done at the previous meeting and ensured that for the second year in succession the full range of TACs and quotas has been agreed before the end of the previous year and that the arrangements for Spanish and Portuguese accession in the fisheries sector have been completed on a basis which fully preserves the principles of the common fisheries policy as well as the opportunities of United Kingdom fishermen.