§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment his Department has made of future stock levels of each species of quota fish for the next four years; [64161]
(2) what estimate his Department has made of indicative total allowable catches for (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002; and if he will make those estimates available to the industry. [64160]
§ Mr. MorleyFisheries scientists from the Ministry's Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) annually join with other international experts to undertake assessments of commercial fish stocks under the auspices of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
Neither CEFAS nor ICES provides a forecast of stock size or catches over the next few years. This is because the future stock size and catches are significantly affected by the large natural variation in the number of young fish born each year and the level of total allowance catches agreed each year by Fisheries Ministers.
ICES does however provide an assessment of the current size and state of the stocks, and of the effects on the stocks of different sizes of catches taken in 1999. It also provides an indication of the status of the stocks, in the medium term, if fishing rates are set at particular levels relative to current fishing. For the longer term, ICES estimates the average long term catches and stock sizes that can be expected with different fishing rates applied to the stocks.
§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure that the six and twelve mile fishing limits will be retained after the renegotiation of the Common Fisheries Policy in 2002. [64155]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Government are committed to ensuring the retention of restrictions on access by foreign vessels within six and twelve mile fisheries limits. They will secure this by working with other Member States and European Commission.
§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what discussion(a) he and (b) his Department's officials have had with producer organisation representatives on industry proposals for coastal state management-based reform of the Common Fisheries Policy; [64158]
(2) what assessment he has made of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation and the National Federation of Fishing Organisation's joint proposal to operate a system of coastal state management of the fishing industry. [64159]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Government have welcomed the industry's joint position paper as a good basis for discussion. I and Ministry officials have discussed the paper with the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and Scottish Fishermen's Federation, including producer organisation representatives. The two Federations have also been discussing their ideas with their counterparts in other Member States and I shall be interested to see the outcome of these contacts.
§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for the 665W future (a) operation and (b) funding of the Sea Fisheries Committees. [64156]
§ Mr. MorleySea Fisheries Committees will continue to play an important role in regulating inshore fisheries in England and Wales out to 6 miles from baselines. Funding is the responsibility of their constituent local authorities.