§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow on 5 April,Official Report, column 237, he is in a position to estimate what approximate percentage of the stock of 0 group sand eels was taken by the Shetland fishery in each of the past 15 years.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe information requested, based on the most recent data available, is set out in the table. The quantity of O-group sand eels taken in the Shetland fishery after 1 July is expressed as a percentage of the estimated number alive at 1 July, when most of this age group are recruited to the fishery.
Year Percentage 1974 7 1975 13 1976 10 1977 11 1978 15 1979 5 1980 15 1981 17 1982 20 1983 7 1984 17 1985 10 1986 7 1987 18 1988 n.a.