HC Deb 13 December 1989 vol 163 cc690-1W
Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the use of echo locators and side scanners and their effect on dolphin and porpoise behaviour.

Mr. Gummer

Echo locators and side scanners are standard equipment on modern fishing vessels to assist in the location of fish shoals for capture. I am not aware of any evidence to suggest that such equipment has any adverse effect on dolphin or porpoise behaviour.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the consequences of the use of nylon monofilament fish nets for the dolphin and porpoise population in British coastal waters.

Mr. Gummer

I am aware of the concern that monofilament fishing nets may accidentally ensnare dolphins and porpoises. However there has been no evidence that this is a significant problem in our waters. Nevertheless the fisheries Departments are planning a general monitoring scheme on the incidental capture of cetaceans in United Kingdom fisheries, so that we can keep the matter under closer review.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to introduce measures similar to those in the United States Marine Mammal Protection Act to protect the populations of cetaceans.

Mr. Gummer

I understand that the specific problem which the United States authorities have sought to address this year, under their Marine Mammal Protection Act, is the very large number of small cetaceans which may be caught in the Pacific purse-seine fisheries for yellow-fin tuna. There is no comparable situation within United Kingdom waters and therefore we have no plans to introduce similar measures. Our own legislation already seeks to protect cetaceans by prohibiting their deliberate taking within our 200-mile limit and the import or sale of cetacean products in the United Kingdom.

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