HL Deb 20 February 1997 vol 578 cc61-2WA
Lord Moran

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will accept the recommendation of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee that the basking shark should be included in the list of protected species under Schedule 5 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and, if so, whether the European Union's agreement with Norway under which Norwegian fishermen are able to fish for basking sharks in European Union waters will be amended or replaced.

The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers)

A formal public consultation on the Joint Nature Conservation Committee's recommendation, part of their third Quinquennial Review of Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, began on 29 January 1997 and is due to end on 1 April 1997. It will not be possible to make a final decision about the recommendation until full consideration of responses to the consultation exercise has taken place. However, should the basking shark be listed, it is understood there will be no need to amend or replace the EU/Norway agreement. The arrangement applies to member state waters outside territorial waters, whilst the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 only applies to those territorial waters.