HC Deb 06 June 1990 vol 173 cc661-2W
Mr. Barry Field

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he proposes to proceed with plans to designate nursery areas for the protection of juvenile bass stocks; and if he will make a statment.

Mr. Curry

[pursuant to his reply, of 19 April 1990, c. 980]:Regulations establishing 34 nursery areas in the coastal waters of England and Wales and prohibiting fishing for bass from vessels for all parts of the year were laid before Parliament today. The Bass (Specified Sea Areas) (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 1990, SI 1990 No. 1156, will take effect from 27 June this year.

The nursery areas are those announced on 19 April with one modification so as to exclude a portion of the eastern areas of Poole harbour. The regulations complete the

England Scotland Wales
British Coal deep mines Licensed coal mines Opencast coal quarries British Coal deep mines Licensed coal mines Opencast coal quarries British Coal deep mines Licensed coal mines Opencast coal mines
11984–85 17 1 1 2 2
1985–86 22 2 3 3 1
1986–87 11 1 1 2 3 1
1987–88 8 2 1 1 1 1
1988–89 14 1 1 1 4
1Covering a 15 month period January 1984 to March 1985.

It is not possible to separate major injuries for England, Scotland and Wales without incurring disproportionate cost. National figures are as follows:

British Coal deep mines Licensed coal mines Opencast coal quarries
11984–85 365 13 19
1985–86 715 17 29
21986–87 952 30 49
1987–88 729 27 48
1988–89 685 25 45

package of measures that the Fisheries Departments a re adopting for the long-term conservation and management of the bass fishery. The other parts of the package, an increase in the minimum landing size from 32 to 36 cm and the introduction of mesh size controls for gill and similar nets, came into operation in January.

An advisory leaflet, "Bass: Nursery Areas and Other Conservation Measures", will be issued by the Department and the Welsh Office within the next fortnight. Copies will be sent to fishermen's organisations, sea anglers' associations, sea fisheries committees and the National Rivers Authority and will also be available on request from this Department and the Welsh Office.

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