HC Deb 21 October 1991 vol 196 cc407-8W
Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what effect the European Community fish quotas for 1991 have on employment in(a) the fishing industry and (b) the fish processing industry; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hanley

There are no indications that there have been any significant changes to employment levels in the Northern Ireland fishing and fish processing industries during 1991.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the effect of the European Community fish quotas has been on the Northern Ireland fishing industry so far in 1991; what tonnage of each fish species has been landed; what is the value of the landings to date; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hanley

Information on the tonnage and value of the main species of fish landed into Northern Ireland is shown in the table. Comparative figures are provided for 1990.

Landings into Northern Ireland
1 January to 30 September 1990 January to 30 September 1991 (provisional)
Tonnage Value £ million Tonnage Value £ million
Nephrops 4,585 6.30 5,017 6.48
Cod 2,883 3.25 1,942 2.44
Hake 1,085 1.95 937 2.22
Whiting 2,594 1.53 2,048 1.01
Others 7,135 3.01 6,150 2.84
Total 18,282 16.14 16,094 14.99

The lower landings of cod and whiting in 1991 are consistent with the reductions in the total allowable catch for Irish sea cod and whiting set by the EC Commission. There was no reduction in the hake TAC or quota.

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