§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if she will make a statement regarding the level of compliance with EC 779W regulation 245/92 by the United Kingdom and other EC vessels in the north-east Atlantic and the Mediterranean; and if she will make a statement on the adequacy of the monitoring and enforcement measures in force;
(2) how she plans to vote on the proposal to extend the deadline for all fishing vessels to comply with EC regulation 245/92, which limits the length of driftnets allowed on one vessel, at the EC Fisheries Council meeting in November;
(3) what plans she has to make representions to the European Commission and the Italian Government on the level of enforcement of EC regulation 245/92 in the Italian swordfish driftnet fishery;
(4) whether she will promote the fair and consistent implementation of EC regulation 245/92 which limits the length of EC driftnets and oppose the extension of the existing derogation which exempts some French vessels from the restriction until 31 December.
§ Mr. JackThe EC regulation in question is 345/92 of 27 January 1992.
A small number of United Kingdom-registered vessels take part in the summer drift net fishery for long-finned albacore tuna which occurs in the north-east Atlantic beyond British fishery limits. Responsibility for monitoring and enforcing the present arrangements rests with the member states whose vessels participate in the fishery or in whole waters the fishery occurs. British sea fishery officers make spot inspections from time to time to check that nets taken on board do not exceed 2.5 km. A derogation exists permitting longer nets for vessels who were fishing in the north-east Atlantic tuna fishery for at least two years before the regulation came into force. However, this expires on 31 December 1993 and no proposal for a continuation of the derogation has been received. No United Kingdom vessels fish in the Mediterranean and I have no information concerning the swordfish fishery referred to.