§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the mortalities caused to sea birds by synthetic gill nets.
§ Mr. CurryOur local sea fisheries inspectorate staff report on significant bird mortalities arising from fishing operations. I have received no such reports of incidents since the winter of 1988, when some 500 birds were reported killed, until February this year when some dead birds were found on a Cornwall beach in plastic bags and their deaths were claimed to be caused by monofilament gill nets but have not been substantiated as such. There is little evidence to suggest that these nets are threatening the survival of any species.
§ Mr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, further to his answer to the hon. Member for South Shields of 14 December 1990,Official Report, column 540, whether he now intends to support the proposed EC regulation 3094/86 to ban driftnets over 2.5 km in length; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerThe proposed addition to regulation 3094/86 to ban the use of drift nets over 2.5 km in length and four other separate measures contained in the proposed 11th amendment package are being examined in the working group for their scientific and legal basis, practical effect, operational feasibility and enforceability. Recommendations to the Council of Ministers from the working group on the proposal have not yet been made.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria are used to determine whether synthetic gill nets may be used in areas of high marine wildlife value.
§ Mr. CurryNo. Regulations governing the use of these nets are imposed as byelaws by either the sea fisheries committees or the National Rivers Authority (NRA) within the 3-mile coastal zone. My own scientists and sea fisheries inspectorate are also active in monitoring the use of these nets and incidental catches. On the evidence available to us these nets are not endangering any species and can serve fish conservation because of their high degree of selectivity.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has consulted the Nature Conservancy Council over the use of synthetic gill nets and their effect on marine wildlife.
§ Mr. CurryFor fisheries conservation and management purposes these nets are already subject in many inshore areas to local restrictions imposed as byelaws by either sea 99W fisheries committees or the National Rivers Authority. Our current scientific advice is that gill nets, when set properly, can be beneficial in fish conservation terms through their high selectivity.