§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made with the French to limit their fishing of sea bass in the Channel.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonI announced on July 27 last year at column298–99 a series of new steps for the conservation of bass fisheries, involving an increased minimum landing size, mesh size restrictions and plans for the establishment of a series of nursery areas to give protection to juvenile bass. The measures do not involve proposals for quantitative restrictions on the adult bass fishery in the Channel. There is no evidence at present to support the need for such restrictions though we shall continue, however, to keep that fishery under review.