§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what account he took, in arranging the initiative to manage the Shetland sandeel fishery, of the announcement on 16 May by the Environment Secretary that measures be taken to control the wider North sea industrial fishery as a priority for the North sea ministerial conference. [27122]
§ Sir Hector MonroThe decision to re-open the Shetland sandeel fishery predated the announcement on 16 May by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. The Government had already taken the view that there was no relevant correlation between the large-scale Danish fishery in the North sea, which accounts for between 1 million and 2 million tonnes of sandeel per annum, and the very much smaller UK fishery at Shetland which will probably account for less than 3,000 tonnes of sandeel this year.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the annual cost of public funds has been in terms of research, monitoring and supervision, for the management of the Shetland sandeel fishery. [27120]
§ Sir Hector MonroBetween 1990–91 and 1995–96, the average annual cost to public funds for research, monitoring and supervision connected with the sandeel fisheries has been £117,000. This covers the sampling of landings, research vessel surveys, and stock assessment work, but excludes academic research contracts jointly funded with other bodies. A breakdown for the Shetland sandeel fishery in particular is not available. However, a reasonable estimate is about 80 per cent. of the total, or £93,000 per annum.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what consideration the Government gave when allowing sandeel fishing in Mousa Sound, Shetland, to its inclusion in the list of proposed special areas of conservation because of its importance for common seals; [27110]
(2) within what distance of special protection areas for sea birds in Shetland sandeel fishing is permitted; [27111]
(3) what action the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department has taken to establish areas closed to sandeel fishing around Shetland's internationally important seabird colonies. [27123]
§ Sir Hector MonroThe Government gave due consideration to their obligations under the European Community directives on the conservation of wild birds and on the conservation of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna before deciding to re-open the Shetland sandeel fishery. In terms of these directives, member states must take appropriate steps to ensure that there is no deterioration of the habitat types or significant disturbance to the species for which areas are designated as European sites. We were satisfied, on the evidence received, that the limited fishery would not have any of these impacts, whether on sea birds or on the common seal at Mousa Sound. No closed areas have therefore been introduced.
581W
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what steps the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department takes to ensure that the management of fisheries does not conflict with the Government's international commitments to the conservation of flora and fauna; [27114]
(2) what action the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department will take if monitoring Shetland's seabird population demonstrates low survival of chicks or shortages of food. [27116]
§ Sir Hector MonroAs set out in the United Kingdom's sustainable development strategy, the Government are committed to promoting fisheries policies which take proper account of the environmental impact of fishing. We therefore take due account of relevant international commitments, and retain statutory powers to act where appropriate, as under the Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 1984 and the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967. These Acts provide the power, if necessary, to close or otherwise regulate the Shetland sandeel fishery. Any such statutory arrangements would then be enforced in the normal manner through the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) where fishing for sandeels has been taking place around Shetland since the fishery was re-opened; [27117]
(2) how many boats have been licensed to fish for sandeels (a) around Shetland and (b) on the west coast of Scotland in 1995. [27118]
§ Sir Hector MonroEight vessels have been licensed to fish at Shetland, and four on the west coast of Scotland. The former have concentrated their fishing around the north and north-west of the island of Mousa.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the role of the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department in negotiating an integrated package of management instruments for the Shetland sandeel fishery; and what considerations underlie the extent to which the management option of closed areas is delegated to voluntary agreement between Scottish Natural Heritage on the one hand and the Shetland Fishermen's Association on the other; [27115]
(2) what evidence he has that the recently re-opened Shetland sandeel fishery is sustainable; [27109]
(3) what advice Scottish Natural Heritage has given him on the closure of areas to sandeel fishing around seabird colonies in Shetland. [27112]
§ Sir Hector MonroFollowing public consultation, the Government have established a framework of rigorous management controls to ensure that the Shetland sandeel fishery operates in a sustainable manner. We have set a total allowable catch of 3,000 tonnes. This represents less than 10 per cent. of the spawning stock biomass, is well within the safe biological limits for such species, and is less than the loss by natural predation. In addition, we have restricted access to small, licensed boats, have limited the season, and have stipulated a single landing point in Lerwick to aid enforcement. In view of this tight framework, we concluded that there was no need for statutory closed areas and have therefore provided for these as an optional management regime. As the Secretary of State's statutory adviser on nature conservation matters, Scottish Natural Heritage is an appropriate focal point for such voluntary liaison with local interests, in this instance the Shetland Fishermen's Association. Although582W it would have preferred formal closed areas, SNH welcomed our precautionary approach and expressed themselves willing to work closely with those concerned.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions sample trawls were taken to assess the state of the 1995 Shetland sandeel stock. [27113]
§ Sir Hector MonroThe Shetland sandeel stock assessment for the 1995 season was undertaken in August 1994 and involved a total of 48 sample trawls.
§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the value of the Shetland sandeel fishery in 1995. [27119]
§ Sir Hector MonroAt current market prices, the total allowable sandeel catch of 3,000 tonnes would fetch about £138,000. This excludes the added value derived from the associated processing and marketing. These benefits will accrue mainly to the local economy in Shetland itself.