Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what percentage of the European Community quota for prawns for 1991 has already been caught; and what proposals he has for the prawn fishing industry and its processing plants for the remainder of 1991;
539W(2) if he has requested a transfer of part of the European Community quota for prawns for the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland; if he has made any representations to the Government in Dublin; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HanleyLandings recorded by 3 October indicated that 90 per cent. of the United Kingdom's quota of 6,235 tonnes of nephrops—prawns—for area VII had been caught. A limit of 2 tonnes per vessel has been set for the month of October with the aim of keeping this fishery open until the end of the quota year on 31 December. The United Kingdom has obtained from the Republic of Ireland a total of 550 tonnes to add to its own quota. Most of the processing plants have built up stocks in cold stores sufficient to maintain their operations for the remainder of the year.