§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will ask the Council of Ministers to increase current precautionary nephrops total allowable catches in the North sea to take into account increased catches from Fladden bank;
(2) what proposals he has to introduce separate precautionary total allowable catches for nephrops on the Fladden bank in the North sea;
(3) what steps he is taking to prevent current nephrops quota being reduced before the end of the current year.
§ Mr. JackFollowing representations from the fishing and processing industries, my Department is approaching the European Commission with a request for an increase in the current precautionary total allowable catch for North sea nephrops. I shall be considering the case for treating the Fladden ground separately. In the meantime, strict controls are being maintained in order to keep this year's fishery open as long as possible.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ban twin prawn trawls.
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§ Mr. JackEC technical conservation rules permit fishing for nephrops with a minimum mesh size of 70 mm in the North sea and allow fishing for cod and other white fish with a minimum mesh size of 100 mm. Since August 1993, with the agreement of the United Kingdom industry, it has not been possible for United Kingdom fishing vessels to use twin or multirig fishing gear in the North sea, except on the Fladen ground, unless the minimum mesh size has been 100 mm. There are no current plans to change this.