§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the part quotas play in conserving measures; and if he has plans to allow quota shares to expand steadily.
§ Mr. Gummer[holding answer 12 May 1988]: Quotas and technical conservation measures taken together are vital elements of the common fisheries policy in ensuring conservation of fish stocks. Technical conservation measures are regularly reviewed in the light of the latest scientific advice: furthermore, a special EC Commission scientific working group is currently studying exploitation patterns in the North sea.
The United Kingdom has been in the forefront of efforts within the Community to ensure that quotas and technical conservation measures are properly enforced, leading to healthy and growing stocks of fish which in the long-term should be able to sustain higher yields, from which the United Kingdom fishing industry will benefit.
§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he had from, and what advice his Department gave to, the Yorkshire and Anglia Fish Producers Organisation over quota management for 1988 at Lowestoft; what representations he has had since the year began; and what action he now proposes to take.
§ Mr. Gummer[holding answer 12 May 1988]: I have not received any representations from the Yorkshire and Anglia Fish Producers' Organisation specifically about quota management at Lowestoft, but I have received correspondence concerning sectoral quota allocations for the producer organisation as a whole. The producer organisation is responsible for the management of the sectoral quota at Lowestoft.