§ Mr. John TownendTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether Fisheries Ministers have now completed their consultations with the United Kingdom fishing industry on the introduction of a 90 mm square mesh panel and related measures; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GummerAs foreshadowed in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans) on 14 January, Fisheries Ministers have now consulted the fishing industry about the unilateral introduction for United Kingdom fishing vessels of 90 mm square mesh panels in the North sea and west of Scotland demersal fisheries. The industry as a whole has acknowledged the need for improved conservation measures, but has drawn attention to various problems which the proposed measure would cause. While appreciating these difficulties, we have decided that, in the long-term interests of the industry itself, we do need to introduce the new requirement from 1 July. From this date, with the exception of beam trawlers, United Kingdom vessels fishing in the North sea and the west of Scotland north of 56 deg north and using nets of between 90 mm and 100 mm mesh size inclusive will be required to use a 90 mm square mesh panel of a specified size in either the cod end or extension piece. The 383W cod end will also have to meet certain requirements on construction; and the use of topside chafers and lifting bags will be prohibited. However, taking account of the points which the industry has raised the specific requirement to use a 90 mm square mesh panel will, initially at least, not apply to vessels whose maximum engine power does not exceed 298 kW—400 horse power: this derogation will not be available to vessels working as pairs if their combined engine power exceeds 298 kW. By 31 March next year we will review the arrangements in the light of experience and any developments, for example, in relation to EC technical conservation measures.
We also sought industry views on the desirability of including square mesh panels in nephrops nets in order to reduce whitefish by catches. In the light of industry comments, we will introduce from 1 July a requirement that in areas IV and VI nets with a mesh size from 70mm to under 90mm, or in the case of area VI south of 56 deg north under 80mm, should include 80mm square mesh panels except in the case of beam trawlers. In the Irish sea, area VIIa, where different mesh size regulations apply, all nets of between 70mm and 85mm inclusive, including both nephrops and whitefish nets, should include a square mesh panel of 75mm, again with the exception of beam trawlers.
Given the United Kingdom's major share of the North sea and west of Scotland cod and haddock stocks and the importance to our fleet of the Irish sea fisheries, we have a clear interest to improve the conservation of these stocks. I believe that these unilateral measures will not only make an important contribution to protecting juvenile whitefish, but should also make clear to the Community our determination to achieve improvements to technical conservation measures which are essential to conserving stocks. We will be laying the necessary statutory instrument before Parliament after the Easter recess.