§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has of the weight and value of fish accidentally caught by United Kingdom-based fishing vessels which under current quota arrangements have to be thrown back; and what proposals he has in respect of this matter. [4010]
§ Mr. BaldryRates of discarding vary greatly between the various sections of the UK fleet due to the fact that the number of small fish entering the fisheries each year is itself highly variable. Discard rates in the haddock and whiting fisheries can be in the region of 50 per cent. by weight of the catch if there are large numbers of small fish present. Discard rates in the larger species fisheries such as cod are very substantially less than this. The impression gained of discard practices by scientific observers is that relatively low volumes of fish are discarded for quota reasons.
The problem is a Community-wide one and needs to be addressed on a Community level. I am determined to have a thorough reappraisal of discarding and technical conservation measures and I shall be pressing in the Fisheries Council for a concerted effort on this in 1996.