§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current evidence of cod stocks in the North sea.
§ Mr. Gummer[holding answer 25 March 1988]: Taking account of scientific evidence including that on the strength of the 1985 year class on which the North sea cod stock will be heavily dependent in 1988, the total allowable catch for the stock in 1988 has been set at 160,000 tonnes. The annual and international process of obtaining and analysing scientific evidence should be completed when the Advisory Committee for Fisheries Management meets from 16 to 26 May 1988 and will provide the basis on which considerations would be made by the European Community in cnsultation with Norway of revisions, if any, to the courrent level of TACs.