§ Mr. MacdonaldTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the numbers of 0-group, 1-group and older fish in the sand eel catches in International Council for the Exploration of the Seas division VIa in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe estimated numbers are as follows:
Thousands 0-Group 1-Group 2 Group and older 1985 3,260,010 152,092 1,240,938 1986 3,065,660 1,845,060 873,010 1987 700,070 1,196,780 518,460 1988 967,187 258,855 2,352,518 1989 444,595 225,564 1,284,771
§ Mr. MacdonaldTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the size of the sand eel catches in International Council for the Exploration of the Seas division VIa in 1990, (b) the amount of fishing effort directed towards sand eel fishing and (c) the home ports of vessels concerned.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe information requested is as follows:
- (a) The sand eel catch in International Council for the Exploration of the Seas area VIa in 1990 up to and including October was 16,515 tonnes.
- (b) 2,065 hours' fishing.
The data available are up to and including October 1990 and are therefore subject to revision.
- (c) Eleven vessels have recorded sand eel catches from area VIa to date. The districts of the vessels concerned are:
Number Fraserburgh 3 Stornoway 2 Aberdeen 1 Ayr 1 MacDuff 1 Mallaig 1 Orkney 1 Shetland 1