HC Deb 10 June 1992 vol 209 cc202-3W
Mr. Michael Brown

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg on 9 June; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Curry

I attended the Council of Fisheries Ministers in Luxembourg on 9 June 1992 together with my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office.

The Council continued its consideration of the mid-term review of the common fisheries policy. The Commission will now be preparing proposals for consideration during the next four months to implement improvements to the policy on better enforcement, measures to reduce discards and the development of fisheries management in the Mediterranean.

The Council accepted the need for improved enforcement by member states, and at the EC level, and asked the Commission to make urgent proposals for strengthening the powers of the Community inspectorate. The Council also recognised the importance and complexity of the problem of discards and asked the Commission to press ahead with the examination of ways of reducing them.

I urged the Council to follow the United Kingdom lead in introducing a one-net rule and announced that to achieve stronger co-operation between the national control authorities we have arranged a meeting for the principals of these authorities to take place in the United Kingdom during our presidency.

The Commission undertook to study the position of sole and whiting in the North sea, the southern North sea fishery and the application of a one-net rule in Community waters.