§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what proposals are being considered to allow the continued use by EC fishing vessels of drift nets over 2.5 km in length after 31 December; and if she will make a statement;
(2) what measures currently exist to minimise the by-catch of striped and common dolphin by drift nets and other fishing methods.
§ Mr. JackFollowing international concern about the impact of large-scale pelagic drift netting on marine resources, including dolphins, the EC prohibited, from 1 June 1992, any EC fishing vessel from using drift nets more than 2.5 km long. However, a derogation allows vessels that fished for long-finned albacore tuna with drift nets in the north east Atlantic for at least two years before the regulation came into force, to use drift nets up to 5 km long until 31 December 1993. The headline of these nets must be submerged at a minimum depth of 2m to minimise risk of by-catches of small cetaceans. No United Kingdom vessels qualify for this derogation—which automatically expires unless the Council of Ministers decides to extend it in the light of scientific evidence showing the absence of any ecological risk. No proposal for a continuation of the derogation has been received. As a further measure to 661W minimise dolphin by-catches, in October 1992 the EC prohibited any EC fishing vessel from encircling schools or groups of marine mammals with purse seine nets.