§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what initiatives she is planning to take at the European Council of Fisheries Ministers meeting on 22 November to ensure that other member states do not extend the phase-out period for drift net fishing.
§ Mr. JackNo mention was made of drift nets at the Fisheries Council on 22 November. The derogation permitting a limited use by France of drift nets up to 5 km long expires on 31 December 1993 unless the Commission makes a proposal to extend the derogation, and the Council accepts it. Should any such proposal be made, I will scrutinise it very closely to see whether the requirement in the regulation, that no ecological risk would be involved, is fully met.