§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what consultation he has had with other European states about the suspension of industrial fishing for sand-eels under the precautionary principle under EU regulation 309/86, article 13; [34282]
46W(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that sand-eel fishing in International Council for the Exploration of the Seas area IVb is sustainable. [34281]
§ Mr. BaldryArticle 13 of Council Regulation (EEC) 3094/86 applies only to exceptional cases where immediate action is necessary.
At the Fisheries Council in April I called for the introduction of total allowable catches for sand-eels in the North sea, including ICES area IVb, and elsewhere. Following this up, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea has been asked by the UK to provide advice on appropriate levels for the TACs as well as considering seasonal and localised catch regulations taking account of the need to protect local aggregations of sand-eels in sensitive areas.