§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to ensure a regular and adequate future supply of nephrops suitable for processing into scampi.
§ Mr. CurryWe have, through EC legislation, adopted conservation measures to maintain and safeguard the renewability of fish stocks including nephrops. It is for the processing industry to arrange for its supplies of nephrops suitable for scampi.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what temporary financial assistance he is prepared to offer shellfish processors who have to resort to temporary lay-offs and closures because of shortage of prawns, nephrops and other types of shellfish.
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§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will amend by-catch restrictions for the use of separator trawls for prawns.
§ Mr. CurryAmendments to the bycatch restrictions in the Community's technical conservation regulation EEC Regulation No. 3094/861 require the agreement of the Council of Fisheries Ministers. Specific provisions for the use of separator trawls need to take account of the nature of the gear and enforcement aspects as well as the catch composition. Further studies are necessary. At the request of the United Kingdom, the Commission will report on the effects of the use of these trawls which is to be permitted from 1 April 1990 for catching nephrops in the Bay of Biscay.
1 Official Journal L288/1, 11.10.86.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for a one net rule.
§ Mr. CurryThe recent paper the United Kingdom put to the EC Commission setting out possible improvements in technical conservation measures included a proposal, which was agreed with the fishing industry, for a one-net rule. We expect the idea to be discussed in Brussels shortly as part of the work of the high-level working group which the Council of Ministers asked to report at the end of June.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to introduce a comprehensive shellfish licensing scheme.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any plans to restrict beam and pair trawling within inshore waters, particularly on the Scottish west coast, Orkney and Shetland.