§ Mr. HarrisTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg on 18 April.
§ Mr. CurryI attended the EC Council of Fisheries Ministers in Luxembourg on 18 April 1991 with Lord Strathclyde, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office.
The Council had an exchange of views on the Commission's communication about the common fisheries policy. There was general recognition that fishing effort against many stocks needs to be reduced. I made it clear that the basic framework of the common fisheries policy is sound, but some improvements are needed. In particular total allowable catches and quotas, together with the principle of relative stability, are a central element, but need better support from improved technical conservation measures and enforcement. The Commission will now prepare by the end of this year the report provided for in the basic CFP regulation 170/83.
The Council had a further discussion of the Commission's proposals for technical conservation measures. The Council will return to this issue at its next meeting in July.