§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the numbers of Danish boats currently fishing for sandeels over traditional Fife fishing grounds.
§ Sir Hector MonroAround 50 Danish sandeel vessels have been sighted in the North sea, some 20 to 40 miles east of the Fife coast. The sandeel fishery is highly seasonal and this activity is only expected to last between four and six weeks.
§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what assessment he has made of the tonnage of sandeels caught by Danish vessels over traditional Scottish fishing grounds in each of the last five years; and what was the value of the sandeels caught.
(2) what assessment he has made of the tonnage of sandeels caught by Danish vessels over the Wee bankie, the Cockenzie bank and the Marr bank in each of the last five years; and what was the value of the sandeels caught.
§ Sir Hector MonroThe following table shows sandeel catches taken by all nations in the western central North sea—an area extending from the Firth of Tay to Flamborough606W Head, extending roughly 120 miles into the North Sea. The 1993 figures will become available later this year. Separate figures are not readily available for Danish catches.
Year Catch ('000 tonnes) Average value per tonne £ 1988 291.1 36 1989 228.3 39 1990 141.4 45 1991 228.2 48 1992 422.4 46 Source: International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (catches): Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department (value of catches).
The bulk of these catches were taken in the southern and eastern parts of the area. Estimated catch in the Marr bank, Wee bankie and Cockenzie bank was 60,000 tonnes in 1992.