§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will reverse his ban on allowing Lowestoft fishing boats, over 10 m, to catch cod for the rest of the year; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will make a statement about the newly announced North sea cod fishing ban; if this represents a change of policy; and what has been the influence on his decision of the take-up of the Scottish cod fisheries quota;
(3) if he will make a statement on the impact, scope and enforcement of his ban on North sea cod fishing on the fishing fleet of Lowestoft.
§ Mr. CurryUnited Kingdom quotas are divided between various industry groups in accordance with a methodology agreed with the industry. This closure applies to the non-sector vessels—that is, to all vessels over 10 m overall length not in membership of a producer organisation which manages its own sectoral quota for North sea cod. It is necessary because the latest landing statistics indicate that the non-sector vessels allocation of North sea cod has now been exhausted, and for no other reason. The fishery cannot be re-opened to non-sector vessels, as to do so would result in other groups, which still have fish to catch, being prejudiced. The closure will be enforced in the normal manner by British sea fishery officers.