§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to promote the banning of EC funding of fish farming in sensitive wetland habitats during the United Kingdom's presidency of the EC.
§ Mr. CurryI have been asked to reply.
A framework for protecting sensitive wetland habitats within the Community is already provided by the EC birds directive—79/409/EEC—and the new EC habitats directive—92/43/EEC. In the United Kingdom, the Fisheries Ministers have a duty under the Sea Fisheries (Wildlife Conservation) Act 1992 to consider nature conservation in the exercise of their functions and to strike a reasonable balance. The Fisheries Departments do not encourage projects in sensitive areas.