HC Deb 11 July 1995 vol 263 cc510-1W
Mr. Morley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement in regard to surveillance of the high seas driftnet fishery for albacore tuna in the north-east Atlantic in 1994; how many United Kingdom fisheries patrol vessels were involved in surveillance; how many patrol boats in total were involved in the surveillance; how many days were spent in surveillance; and what was the total cost to the United Kingdom [33633]

Mr. Baldry

Last year, during the summer tuna fishery, the long-standing conflict between Spanish and French fishermen spilled over and embroiled UK vessels. Such harassment of British fishing vessels ceased following the arrival of the Royal Navy in the tuna fishery.

There are a total of nine vessels in the Royal Navy fisheries protection squadron, of which three or four vessels are normally on task to the Ministry at any one time and one to the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency. The Royal Navy sent two vessels to patrol the tuna fishery for a total of 112 patrol days during 1994 at a cost of some £0.6 million to the Ministry and the Welsh Office.

Mr. Morley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total catch of albacore tuna by United Kingdom vessels in the high seas drifnet fishery in the north-east Atlantic in 1994; what was its value; and where was the main market for this tuna. [33634]

Mr. Baldry

UK vessels using nets in the north-east Atlantic landed 576 tonnes of albacore tuna in 1994, with a total value of £879,000. Some 426 tonnes of the total were landed in the UK, the main port of landing and first sale being Newlyn.

Mr. Morley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what monitoring has been conducted of the bycatch of unwanted fish, sharks, dolphins and other wildlife in the high seas driftnet fishery for albacore tuna in the north-east Atlantic; and what contribution to this bycatch is made by the United Kingdom driftnet fleet. [33636]

Mr. Baldry

In 1992 and 1993, there was a study of the bycatch of the French driftnet fleet, which is the largest in the north-east Atlantic tuna fishery. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has commissioned the sea mammals research unit to monitor the bycatch of the United Kingdom tuna driftnet fleet in 1995 and 1996.