§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the Seahouses fishing vessels Fidelis and Providence were boarded and instructed on his Department's behalf on 5 May to cease using nephrops nets in which the square mesh panel was fitted forward of the flapper; whether the notice issued by district inspector W. P. Bridge about the square mesh panel being placed either forward or to the rear of any flapper had been withdrawn on or before 5 May; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JackA requirement to incorporate square mesh panels in nephrops nets was introduced in 1991 after full200W consultation with the industry. Experients had shown that these panels, when placed in the net's cod end, any extension piece or immediately in front of any extension piece, allow undersized fish a greater opportunity to escape from nets and grow on to maturity. This is reflected in Statutory Instrument 1991 No. 1380 as amended by Statutory Instrument 1992 No. 1344. The district inspector's notice correctly sets out the essential provisions of these SIs as they relate to North sea nephrops nets. It has not been withdrawn.
FVs Fidelis and Providence were routinely inspected at sea by officers from the fisheries protection vessel HMS Quorn on 5 May. The nephrops nets examined did not appear to the inspecting officer to conform with the requirements of the statutory instruments and the skippers concerned were cautioned.