HC Deb 21 November 1997 vol 301 cc348-55W
Mr. Jack

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 17 November 1997,Official Report, column 22, concerning fish stocks, what information was given by his Department's scientists to the representatives of the fishing industry who met them on Thursday 13 November. [17285]

Dr. John Cunningham

The scientists concerned were staff of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and I have asked the Agency's Chief Executive to reply to the right hon. Member direct.

Letter from P. W. Greig-Smith to Mr. Michael Jack, dated 21 November 1997: Dr. Cunningham has asked me to respond your Parliamentary Question concerning information given by this Department's Scientists to the representatives of the Fishing Industry on 13 November.[17285] I would advise that the International Council for Exploration of the Sea's Advisory Committee on Fishery Management (ACFM) met from 22–31 October. At this meeting, ACFM prepared advice for the management of many of the commercial fish stocks important to the UK. Dr. J. Horwood (CEFAS) was the UK representative and Dr. R. Cook (FRS, Aberdeen) also attended. On 13 November CEFAS scientists gave representatives of the fishing industry their summary of the expected ACFM advice. The attached table was handed to the industry. The final column is CEFAS' interpretation of the ACFM advice for catch limits in 1998. As was explained to the industry, these figures should be used with some caution. They are based upon the latest draft of the ACFM advice, and the figures are subject to change. The final ACFM report is expected very soon.

Summary of ICES ACFM advice, agreed TACs and actual landings (k tonnes) 1985–91
1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991
Demersal
North Sea Cod ICES rec <259 <130 <125 <148 <124 113 92
Agreed TAC(a) 250 170 175 160 124 105 100
Actual landings(a) 193 163 175 150 116 104 87
Haddock ICES rec <209 <239 <120 <185 <68 50 48
Agreed TAC2(a) 207 230 140 185 68 50 50
Actual landings(a) 165 169 112 109 78 54 49
Whiting ICES rec <118 135 127 134 115 130 134
Agreed TAC2(a) 160 135 135 120 115 125 141
Actual landings(a) 69 76 78 100 83 93 84
Saithe ICES rec 195 195 <198 156 170 120 125
Agreed TAC(b) 200 240 173 165 170 120 125
Actual landings(b) 200 164 149 105 92 88 99
Plaice ICES rec 130 <160 120 150 <175 171 <169
Agreed TAC 200 180 150 175 185 180 175
Actual landings 160 165 154 154 170 156 147
Sole ICES rec 15 12 11 11 14 25 27
Agreed TAC 22 20 14 14 14 25 27
Actual landings 24.2 18.2 17.4 21.6 21.8 35.1 34
English Channel (VIId, e) Plaice ICES rec 5.4 6.2 46.8 46.9 11.7 10.7 8.8
Agreed TAC 6.5 6.9 8.3 9.96 11.7 10.7 10.7
Actual landings 7.4 8.6 10.3 12.9 11.1 11.6 9.7
English Channel (East VIId) Sole ICES rec 2.3 42.6 43.1 43.4 3.8 3.7 3.4
Agreed TAC 2.7 3.2 3.85 3.85 3.85 3.85 3.85
Actual landings 3.9 3.9 4.90 3.90 4.2 4.0 4.4
English Channel (West VIIe) Sole ICES rec 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.0 0.9 0.54
Agreed TAC 1.4 1.3 1.15 1.3 1.0 0.9 0.80
Actual landings 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.4 1.2 1.1 0.70
English Channel and Celtic Sea Cod ICES rec VIId (c) 10.0 (c)10.5 (c)12.0
ICES rec VIIf, g 7.0 8.6 9.2 4.5
Agreed TAC 4(c)22.0 4(c)23.9 4(c)24.0 4(c)22.0
Actual landings 29.8 29.2 18.2 12.8
Whiting ICES rec VIId
ICES rec VIIf, g 7.0 7.9 8.4 8.0
Agreed TAC 418.5 419.3 424.0 424.0
Actual landings 21.2 22.5 18.8 20.2
Bristol Channel/Celtic Sea (VIIf, g) Sole ICES rec 1.2 1.2 1.6 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.1
Agreed TAC 1.2 1.5 1.6 1.1 1.0 1.2 1.2
Actual landings 1.33 1.60 1.22 1.15 1.0 1.2 1.1
Plaice ICES rec 1.3 1.6 51.2 n/a 2.0 1.9 1.7
Agreed TAC 1.8 1.8 1.8 2.5 2.5 1.9 1.9
Actual landings 1.8 1.7 1.9 2.1 2.2 2.1 1.5
Irish Sea Cod ICES rec 8.8 10.7 10.3 10.1 <13.4 15.3 6.0
Agreed TAC 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.3 10.0
Actual landings 10.5 9.9 12.9 14.2 12.8 7.4 6.7
Whiting ICES rec 13.4 16.0 16.0 12.0 <11.0 8.3 6.4
Agreed TAC 18.2 18.2 18.2 18.2 18.2 15.0 10.0
Actual landings 18.2 12.4 14.4 11.9 13.4 10.7 10.0
Plaice ICES rec 4.0 5.0 5.0 4.8 5.8 5.1 3.3
Agreed TAC 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.8 5.1 4.5
Actual landings 5.1 4.8 6.2 5.0 4.4 3.3 2.5
Sole ICES rec 1.1 1.65 1.9 1.6 <1.5 1.5 1.3
Agreed TAC 1.25 1.9 2.1 1.75 1.5 1.5 1.5
Actual landings 1.1 2.0 2.8 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.2
NE Arctic Cod ICES rec 170 <446 <645 6530 300 172 215
Agreed TAC 220 400 560 6590 300 160 215
Actual landings 308 430 523 435 332 212 319
Pelagic
Herring North Sea (north) ICES rec(g) 166 235 600 500 484 373 363
ICES IVa, b Agreed TAC 500 560 500 484 385 370
Actual landings 466 496 580 646 620 488 503
North Sea (south) and ICES rec(g) 62 42 410 45 430 430 430
English Channel Agreed TAC 90 70 40 30 30 30 30
(IVc, VIId) Actual landings 70 51 45 52 79 61 61
Irish Sea ICES rec 5 6.3 4.3 710.5 45.5 46.0 5.6
Agreed TAC 5 6.3 4.5 10.5 6.0 7.0 6.0
Actual landings 9.2 7.4 5.8 10.2 5.0 6.3 4.4
Mackerel North Sea ICES rec 0 0 8 8 8 8 8
Agreed TAC 37 55 55 55 49.2 45.2 65.5
Actual landings 35 25 3 6 7 10 10
Western ICES rec 340 290 380 430 5500 480 500
Agreed TAC(i) 415 367 405 573 495 525 575
Actual landings 561 538 615 628 567 606 646
Sprat North Sea ICES rec 8 <80 8 8 8 n/a n/a
Agreed TAC 153 100 57 457 459 459 455
Actual landings 50 16 33 87 63 71 110

Summary of ICES ACFM advice, agreed TACs and actual landings (k tonnes) 1985–91
1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991
Other
Hake Northern ICES rec 454 454 459 459
Agreed TAC 448.9 463.5 466.2 460.0 465.1 467.0
Actual landings 65.7 59.9 63.3 64.8 66.5 59.9 57.6
Nephrops North Sea ICES rec 10.0
Agreed TAC
Actual landings 8.1 8.6 8.2 9.7 11.1 10.4 11.0
Area VII ICES rec 520.0 520.0 520.0 520.0 16.5 17.7
Agreed TAC 24.7 24.7 24.7 26.0 26.0 19.0
Actual landings 17.6 16.4 17.6 15.6 15.2 14.9 15.9
Anglerfish Area VIIb-k(j)and VIIIa, b ICES rec
Agreed TAC 39.1 43 43 43 43
Actual landings 29.5 28.5 30.0 29.3 25.0
Megrim Area VIIb-k(j) and VIIIa, b ICES rec
Agreed TAC 16.5 18.1 18.1 18.1 18.1
Actual landings 17.0 17.5 19.2 14.3 15.0
1 Expected landings.
2 Human consumption + industrial.
3 Status quo as no specific recommendation.
4 Precautionary TAC.
5 STCF recommendation.
6 Revised May 1988.
7 Subsequently revised to 5.6.
8 Lowest possible level.
n/a: not available.
(a) Includes IIa + IV.
(b) Includes IIa + IV + IIIa-d.
(c) Includes VIIe.
(d) Includes VIId-h.
(e) Includes VIII, IX, X and CECAF 34.1.1.
(f) Includes VIId-k.
(g) Includes IV + IIIa + VIId.
(h) Includes IV + VIId.
(i) Includes IIa (except EC zone), Vb + VII + VIIIa, b, d, e + XII + XIV.
(j) Includes VII + VIIIa, b, d, e.

ICES recommended figures are preferred or maximum levels.

Summary of ICES ACFM advice, agreed TACs and actual landings (k tonnes) 1992–98
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
Demersal
North Sea Cod ICES rec 98 95 -102 132 141 115 153
Agreed TAC(a) 100 101 102 120 130 115
Actual landings(a) 98 105 94 120 106 1137
Haddock ICES rec 60 134 210 109 120 114 110
Agreed TAC2(a) 60 133 160 120 120 114
Actual landings(a) 81 91 84 83 81 1131
Whiting ICES rec 121 88 -87 69 59 76 54
Agreed TAC2(a) 135 120 100 81 67 74
Actual landings(a) 72 68 52 69 64 45
Saithe ICES rec [102 93 -72 107 111 113 97
Agreed TAC(b) 110 93 97 107 111 115
Actual landings(b) 92 105 97 114 110 1118
Plaice ICES rec <160 3170 3147 87 61 80 82
Agreed TAC 175 175 165 115 81 91
Actual landings 125 110 111 98 83 193
Sole ICES rec 21 329 331 28 23 14.6 18.1
Agreed TAC 25 32 32 30 23 18
Actual landings 29 31 33 30 23 120
English Channel (VIId, e) Plaice ICES rec <9.6 6.1–7.7 39.1 7.0 7.1 6.5 4.8
Agreed TAC 9.6 8.5 9.1 8.0 7.5 7.1
Actual landings 7.9 6.7 7.0 6.1 6.4 16.7
English Channel (East VIId) Sole ICES rec <2.7 2.8 <3.8 3.8 4.7 5.2 <4.5
Agreed TAC 3.5 3.2 3.8 3.8 4.7 5.2
Actual landings 4.1 4.4 4.6 4.5 5.0 (4.8)
English Channel (West VIIe) Sole ICES rec 0.77 0.7 1.0 30.86 <0.68 0.69 0.67
Agreed TAC 0.8 0.9 1.0 0.95 0.7 0.75
Actual landings 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.58 10.60
English Channel and Celtic Sea Cod ICES rec VIId 2.9 5.5
ICES rec VIIf, g <9.8 6.5 5.6 4.7 4.7 (d)10.5 (f)13.7
Agreed TAC 4(c)20.0 4(c)17.5 4(c)17.0 4(c)17.0 420.0 420.0
Actual landings 14.1 14.1 14.7 17.1 (f)15.5 (15.9)(f)
Whiting ICES rec VIId 6.7 5.7 6.9
ICES ref VIIf, g 48.0 6.6 <9.4 8.2 <8.6 (d)12.4 (f)14.0
Agreed TAC 422.0 422.0 422.0 425.0 428.0 427.0
Actual landings 19.3 22.8 28.3 30.0 (f)23.0 (f)16.2

Summary of ICES ACFM advice, agreed TACs and actual landings (k tonnes) 1992–98
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
Bristol Channel/Celtic Sea (VIIf, g) Sole ICES rec 31.1 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.7
Agreed TAC 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.0 0.9
Actual landings 1.0 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.0 10.8
Plaice ICES rec 1.4 1.2 31.3 0.93 1.10 1.0
Agreed TAC 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.1 1.1
Actual landings 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.0 0.95 11.2
Irish Sea Cod ICES rec 10.0 10.2 3.7 3.9 5.4 5.9 6.2
Agreed TAC 10.0 11.0 6.2 5.8 6.2 6.2
Actual landings 7.2 7.6 5.4 4.6 4.8 15.9
Whiting ICES rec 9.7 6.5 9.9 38.3 9.8 7.5 3.8
Agreed TAC 10.0 8.5 9.9 8.0 9.0 7.5
Actual landings 12.8 9.2 7.9 7.0 4.5 14.9
Plaice ICES rec 3.0 2.8 <3.7 32.4 2.5 2.1 2.4
Agreed TAC 3.8 2.8 3.1 2.8 2.45 2.1
Actual landings 3.2 2.0 2.1 1.9 1.7 12.1
Sole ICES rec 1.2 0.92 1.5 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.85
Agreed TAC 1.35 1.0 1.5 1.3 1.0 1.0
Actual landings 1.3 1.0 1.4 1.3 1.0 10.9
NE Arctic Cod ICES rec 250 385 649 681 746 993 514
Agreed TAC 356 500 700 700 700 850
Actual landings 513 582 771 740 732 1840
Pelagic
Herring North Sea (north) ICES ICES rec(g) 5396 290 296 3379 156 159 225–250
IVa, b Agreed TAC 380 380 390 390 156 134
Actual landings 472 432 392 534 216 1361
North Sea (south) and ICES rec 4,530 450 450 450
English Channel (IVc, Agreed TAC 50 50 50 50 25
VIId) Actual landings 74 85 73 63 50
Irish Sea ICES rec 6.6 4.9–7.4 45.3 4<5.1 45.0 none none
Agreed TAC 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 9.0
Actual landings 5.3 4.4 4.8 5.1 5.3 n/a
Mackerel North Sea ICES rec 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
Agreed TAC 76.3 83.1 95.7 52.8
Actual landings n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Western ICES rec 5600 670 3831 530 280 381 420–580
Agreed TAC(i) 670 730 790 608 425 364
Actual landings 742 805 798 729 529 1530
Sprat North Sea ICES rec n/a n/a n/a n/a none none none
Agreed TAC 455 114 114 175 200 (a)150
Actual landings 124 200 324 357 137 n/a
Other
Hake Northern ICES rec 461.5 <46 31 39.1 54.2 44.8
Agreed TAC 469.0 71.5 60 55.1 51.1 60.1
Actual landings 56.6 52.1 51.3 56.2 47.8 152.1
Nephrops North Sea ICES rec 10.6 10.2 412.5 412.5 412.5 412.5 14.6
Agreed TAC 12.0 12.0 13.0 15.2 15.2 15.2
Actual landings 9.6 12.8 14.4 14.7 13.5 n/a
Area VII ICES rec 16.5 17.2 417.2 417.2 417.2 417.2 17.2
Agreed TAC 20.0 20.0 20.0 20.0 23.0 23.0
Actual landings 15.8 16.7 17.5 20.2 17.1 n/a
Anglerfish Area VIIb-k(j) and VIIIa, b ICES rec 30.3 34.3 33.0
Agreed TAC 43 25.1 23.9 23.2 30.4 34.3
Actual landings 21.1 20.1 21.9 25.0 26.9 129.8
Megrim Area VHb-k(j) and VIIIa, b ICES rec 16.6 19.1 14.5
Agreed TAC 18.1 21.5 20.3 22.6 21.2 25.0
Actual landings 15.5 14.9 13.5 15.5 14.4 114.3
1 Expected landings.
2 Human consumption + industrial.
3 Status quo as no specific recommendation.
4 Precautionary TAC.
5 STCF recommendation.
6 Revised May 1988.
7 Subsequently revised to 5.6.
8 Lowest possible level.
n/a: not available.
(a)Includes IIa + IV.
(b)Includes IIa + IV + IIIa-d.
(c) Includes VIIe.
(d)Includes VIId-h.
(e)Includes VIII, IX, X and CECAF 34.1.1.
(f) Includes VIId-k.
(g) Includes IV + IIIa + VIId.
(h) Includes IV + VIId.
(i)Includes IIa (except EC zone), Vb + VII + VIIIa, b, d, e + XII + XIV.
(j) Includes VII + VIIIa, b, d, e.

ICES recommended figures are preferred or maximum levels.

In many cases 1998 figures are estimates of possible Commission proposals.