HC Deb 18 May 1992 vol 208 cc36-7W
Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will specify which body is responsible for the regulation of the harvesting of shellfish in Northern Ireland coastal waters and beaches.

Mr. Hanley

Legislation to regulate the fishing industry is generally implemented on a United Kingdom wide basis by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland acting in concert. Under the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 and the Diseases of Fish Act (Northern Ireland) 1967, however, the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland also enjoys certain regulatory powers of its own.

Gathering shellfish from the foreshore of Belfast lough west of Black head and Orlock point is prohibited under the Belfast Corporation Act (Northern Ireland) 1930 and responsibility for enforcing this lies with the local district councils.

Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a table showing the amount of shellfish harvested by species in each of the last five years and their principal areas of extraction.

Mr. Hanley

The following is the information:

Farmed shellfish
Year Pacific oysters tonnes Native oysters tonnes Mussels tonnes Clams tonnes Cockles tonnes
1987 98.720 — 14.135 — —
1988 125.650 — 26.424 — 1.000
1989 199.711 16.080 104.040 0.085 1.700
1990 152.110 29.150 386.620 1.200 2.750
1991 169.620 21.700 1934.560 0.320 2.800

Note: The principal areas of cultivation are Strangford Lough, Belfast Lough and Dundrum Inner Bay.

1987 1988 1989 1990 1991
Species West of Scotland (ICES Area VIa) Irish Sea (ICES Area VIIa) West of Scotland (ICES Area VIa) Irish Sea (ICES Area VIIa) West of Scotland (ICES Area VIa) Irish Sea (ICES Area VIIa) West of Scotland (ICES Area VIa) Irish Sea (ICES Area VIIa) West of Scotland (ICES Area VIa) Irish Sea (ICES VIIa)
Queen Scallops — 240.251 — 22.582 — 53.018 — 78.862 0.152 191.175
Scallops 11.712 296.697 — 222.171 9.171 316.639 46.312 215.025 40.783 188.875
Squid — 22.242 1.511 81.735 0.095 105.599 1.257 72.762 3.185 33.042
Mussels — — — — — — — 260.000 — 1,810.000