§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many vessels have been advised of contraventions of European Union fishing regulations in United Kingdom fishing protection operations in the last three years; and on how many occasions these contraventions have led to prosecutions. [50401]
§ Mr. MorleyDuring the period 1995–97, the UK enforcement authorities detected 5,401 infringements of European Union fishing regulations in respect of 2,514 vessels. This has resulted in the masters and/or owners of some 324 vessels being prosecuted in respect of 612 of the infringements detected. There are some cases which are still being processed and the number of prosecutions may therefore rise.