§ Lord Gainfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there are any plans to change proposals for the possible extension of Sea Fisheries Committees jurisdiction.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonYes. Following detailed consultations with all interested parties and after consideration of the views expressed, my right honourable friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales have decided that, in order to enable SFCs to regulate those stocks, notably shellfish, which are predominantly fished within the 0 to 6 mile belt, we are in principle ready to see the jurisdiction of SFCs extended to include waters out to six miles from UK baselines. It is now for SFCs and the constituent councils to decide whether to seek extension of their jurisdiction. If an SFC's jurisdiction is extended, its existing by-laws will continue to apply only within the 0 to 3 mile belt. Any new by-laws intended to apply in the 3 to 6 mile belt will be considered on their merits in the usual way.